“And can defeat a difficult opponent”, — write: sport.ua
Parker was supposed to fight against Usyk. However, he got to Wordley because of Alexander’s refusal
Joseph Parker is in a rather long wait for a championship match. At the beginning of 2024, in January, he was supposed to meet with Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia. Then they came to Riyadh together with the rival, held several public events. And then something happened to Dubois.
According to the official version, Daniel fell ill. The doctor declared that the Briton would not be able to participate in the fight, and he was removed. No one has heard a clear reason so far, on average, everyone talks about the disease.
A replacement was brought to Parker. Instead of DuBois, Martin Bakole entered the ring, and the confrontation took place exactly as it should have. Martin did not prepare at all – he was even outside the camp, rested and flew just for the match. Parker had a fairly competitive 1st round, and knocked out his opponent in the 2nd.
Then it seemed that Parker should become Usyk’s rival. These assumptions were based on the logic that Joseph had the interim WBO title, and Usyk had the full title. And on the fact that Parker had a fight and won, and DuBois was eliminated from his fight.
However, the opposite happened: Parker continued to wait until Usyk met Dubois again. The Ukrainian needed this fight to become a 3-time absolute champion. Oleksandr managed – he knocked out the Briton even earlier than in the previous meeting, and still won all the heavyweight belts again.
And Parker is waiting again. This time the fight was already scheduled, but the Ukrainian champion did not agree. Now, due to a back injury, he got a postponement of the mandatory defense negotiations.
The New Zealander decided not to wait. This is logical, because he has not boxed since winter and at the same time had only one and a half rounds of a fight against an unprepared opponent. Therefore, it was necessary to return to the ring and prove yourself.
They chose a difficult opponent. Joseph’s team could protect their fighter. However, before the possible meeting with Usyk, you can risk yourself less – to come out ready, not injured or not to be eliminated from the fight at all. However, they decided differently.
Joseph’s opponent was Fabio Wordley, who made his way to the championship by knockouts. Punched – almost literally.
In 2023, Wordley knocked out the first British prospect who stood in his way. They had a fight against David Adele, and Fabio emerged victorious by TKO in the 7th round.
Next is Fraser Clarke, a former Olympian from Great Britain, who should be beating an opponent who has not had a single amateur match.
It was pretty close in the first fight, but Wordley fought back with knockdowns and pulled out a draw. In the rematch, everything ended faster: Fabio knocked Clark out already in the 1st round.
After that, the Wordleys were taken out onto the avenue again. This time – on 26-year-old Australian Justice Gooney. He was also an amateur, he competed a lot in international tournaments.
It seemed that now Wordley was going to lose. Even during the match, everything went to this – Guni took almost every round of the confrontation. However, in the 10th 3 minutes, the British knocked him out as well. Caught an oncoming blow so that there was no question of recovery.
Now it’s Parker’s turn. And this is definitely the biggest challenge in Wardley’s career. Joseph is not an avenue to be taken. Even Gooney and Clarke are not at the same level for all their amateur tournament experience.
Parker is a former world champion. Boxer who has faced Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte, Derek Chisora and almost defeated Alexander
antennae Parker has defeated Deontay Wilder, Zhang Zhilei and Martin Bakole in his last three fights, all the more difficult opposition than Wardle has faced even in his career.
However, at the same time, the fight feels more equal than one where an experienced boxer goes to beat an underdog.
Who is the favorite?
The gap between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wordley is quite large. You can bet on the victory of the New Zealander with a coefficient of 1.25. For the victory of the British – with a coefficient of 4.00. It can be stated that Wordley is an outsider.
However, it still does not feel so clear.
Parker should win because he is an experienced boxer. Because he really is better as a boxer. He can do more, a more versatile athlete. Lately, Joseph has been quite stable psychologically and is pressing even in battles where things are not easy.
However, at the same time, he can lose. Parker makes mistakes, misses sometimes what he could have avoided. Sometimes he goes on the attack too actively and loses because of it, losing strength. And you can’t lose freshness against Wardley – he will immediately break through to where there is space.
Fabio hasn’t been in as many tough fights and is fresher. He has a strong head and the same punches. This is not a perfect puncher, but a boxer with a punch. But whether Parker Wordley will punch is a big question, because the boxers could not do it even with a heavier blow.
That is, in the end, we come to a duel, which can turn out so that the favorite loses, and no one will be surprised. Because it will happen quite obviously and in a simple form. And we may not come. Parker has been pleasing fans with his stability lately, and in the event of a victory, Usyk will be able to get out of it only by admitting that he does not want to go against Joseph.
Such chances cannot be lost. Although Wordley will do anything to make Parker do it.