“Four Minutes of Boxing in 15 Months”: Ade Oladipo Sounds Alarm on Joseph Parker’s Rust Before Wardley Showdown

Commentator Ade Oladipo points out that Joseph Parker’s inactivity in the last 15 months puts him in a vulnerable position against Fabio Wardley tonight in their heavyweight bout at the O2 Arena in London, England. Parker has fought only two rounds, totaling four minutes, over the last eight months.

(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)

Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) has been more active; he’s younger, stronger, and when he knocks his opponents down, they stay down. Ade gives Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) the edge, just barely, based on his experience.

Fifteen Months, Four Minutes of Action

“My worry for Parker is he’s had four minutes of boxing in 15 months,” said commentator Ade Oladipo to Queensberry, talking about Joseph Parker’s inactivity.

Parker knocked out the grossly out-of-shape 310-lb Martin Bakole in the second round earlier this year on February 22nd. Before that, Parker’s previous fight was a 12-round majority decision win over Zhilei Zhang on March 8, 2024. He didn’t exactly look like a reincarnated Joe Louis in that fight, getting dropped twice by Zhang, and only winning because Zhilei gassed out in the championship rounds.

The lack of activity and quality fights puts Parker at just enough disadvantage to give the more youthful and trim Wardley a chance tonight. Parker didn’t look trim, weighing in at 262 1/2 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in.

Parker’s Conditioning Under the Microscope

Joseph’s best weight is the mid-240s, and he looked like he hasn’t missed too many meals since his fight with Bakole. Surprisingly, Parker would allow himself to come into such an important fight looking as flabby as he is against one of the biggest punchers in the division.

“Yes, he’s had an incredible run of Wilder, Zhang, and Bakole. But he’s not been active, and he’s fighting someone who has been active. Someone who is unpredictable. But you’ve got to favor Parker,” said Ade.

“Parker is more experienced. What Parker has done in boxing for a decade is incredible. He’s fought everybody apart from Fury and Usyk, but this is a massive step up for Wardley. This isn’t Justis Huni. It’s another level.