Notebook: Wardley risk vs. Parker can earn reward of shot vs. Usyk
Chisora-Whyte 3 in works; Matchroom wins Muratalla-Cruz purse bid; Queensberry heading to Germany for Kabayel homecoming; new trainer for Tszyu; Jake-Tank fight week card set; Quick hits; Show & tell
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On the one hand, heavyweight contender Fabio Wardley is proud of the massive one-punch power he possesses, especially in his right hand. But, by the same token, he feels as though his string of knockouts have overshadowed the boxing skills he said he is also proud of.
The eye-catching power, however, is what many understandably focus on and it was no different in his last fight in June. He was headlining in Portman Road, an outdoor soccer stadium in his hometown of Ipswich, England, against unbeaten Justis Huni and being soundly outboxed.
Huni held a wide lead on all three scorecards going into the 10th round of their fight for the vacant WBA interim title when Wardley knocked him out with a booming right hand to the head that Huni never saw coming.
Now Wardley will see if he can replicate the big punch while also displaying his skills when he challenges WBO interim titlist Joseph Parker in the main event of a Queensberry Promotions card dubbed “All or Nothing” on Saturday (DAZN PPV, 1:30 p.m. ET, $59.99 in U.S., £24.99 in U.K.) at The O2 in London.
The Parker-Wardley ring walks will be at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET and the WBA interim title will be stripped from Wardley once the fight begins as the WBO does not permit a unification bout among interim titleholders.