Fabio Wardley says the “pressure is off” of him with the oddsmakers making him the underdog for Saturday’s fight against Joseph Parker at the O2 Arena in London.
The eight-year pro Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) has grown accustomed to being the favorite in his fights. So, it’s a fresh experience for him to come in as the underdog.
Parker the Favorite
WBO interim heavyweight champion Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) is viewed as the more technically skilled fighter, and looked noticeably improved in his last three fights. He began his career as a raw puncher in 2012, but he’s learned a lot since teaming up with Andy Lee in March 2021.
“They all have me as the underdog, which is quite refreshing to me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been at that end of the stick. The pressure is off of me,” said Fabio Wardley to talkSport Boxing about him being an underdog for his fight against Joseph Parker on Saturday.
Parker is a -350 favorite to defeat Wardley. The oddsmakers are going by the experience that the former WBO heavyweight champion Parker possesses, fighting top-level opposition, like Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. The 33-year-old Parker has been a pro for 13 years. That makes him a known commodity for the bettors.
Wardley’s power, hand speed, intelligence, and youth give him a real chance in this fight. If he can force Parker into exchanges, it’ll favor him due to his speed and power. Fabio will still need a good chin, though, because Parker can bang.
Exploiting Weak Points
“I know where Joe has his weak points, and I’m looking to exploit them on Saturday night. It’s a very obvious carrot that is being dangled ahead of me and Joe. It’s the fight. It’s the biggest fight in boxing,” said Wardley about a fight against undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk if he’s victorious against Parker.
There’s a lot of money for the winner of Parker vs. Wardley to make when one of them challenges Usyk for his four belts in 2026. Daniel Dubois earned an estimated $71.2 million fighting Usyk in their rematch on July 19, 2025. Imagine what Wardley could make fighting Usyk. It would be huge compared to what he’s been making for his fights.
“It’s distracting but hugely motivating as well. I’m going to put everything in me on the line because I’m inches away from a world title shot,” said Wardley.
Fabio Wardley – Final Take: The Bookies Got It Backward This Time
It’s going to be doubly hard for Parker to fight someone with as much hunger and ambition as Wardley has. Parker’s last three opponents fought like they didn’t possess that same hunger to win that Fabio has right now.
That’s going to be hard for Joseph to adjust to, as he faces someone with a strong will to win on Saturday. Parker could fold like he did in his 11th-round knockout loss to Joe Joyce on September 24, 2022.
Last Updated on 10/22/2025
Read the full article here
