Joseph Parker’s trainer, Andy Lee, predicts tonight’s bout with WBA interim heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley will be a “firefight” that could end at any moment at the O2 Arena in London. Lee jokingly says the contest won’t make it to the later rounds. “It’s going to be over inside two,” with Parker scoring a quick knockout.
(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)
Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) is facing his toughest test in a year in the form of the 30-year-old Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs). Although Joseph has beaten several well-known heavyweights lately, they’ve been older fighters —Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang, and Deontay Wilder —and not in great physical shape.
“Firefight From the First Bell”
“I think it’ll be a firefight. Both guys will let their hands go,” said trainer Andy Lee to Boxing Now, predicting the type of fight that will take place tonight between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley.
It’s easier to predict it’s going to be a firefight from Wardley’s side, because that’s the way he always fights. Parker is more likely to use his retro Chris Byrd style to move around and fight defensively tonight. Joseph fights nothing like the all-action style he had earlier in his career when Kevin Barry trained him.
“Wardley is dangerous. There ain’t going to be no later rounds. It’s going to be over inside two,” said Lee, jokingly predicting an early knockout for Parker. “Nah, it could go any time. These two guys are punching hard.”
It would be silly for coach Lee to assume that Parker is going to obliterate Fabio Wardley in two rounds like he did his last opponent, Martin Bakole, earlier this year on February 22nd. Bakole. He came into the fight weighing a colossal 310 pounds, and he was not in the type of condition for an athletic contest.
Wardley looked in better shape than Parker on the scales last Friday, with his waistline and physique looking trim. That’s youth and dedication. If anyone is going to be slower, it’ll be Parker, as he weighed in at 262 1/2 pounds. That’s heavier than the 255 1/2 lbs that he scaled in for in his 11th-round knockout loss to Joe Joyce on September 24, 2022.
Lee Outlines Parker’s Blueprint
“Using boxing IQ, punching, moving, and being who he is himself,” said Lee when asked how Parker can defeat Wardley. “If he beats Fabio, there’s no one else to fight. Hopefully, Usyk will do the right thing and give him a shot.”
As you can see, Lee is concerned about whether champion Usyk will agree to defend against Parker next if he comes out victorious tonight. There’s really no other option for Oleksandr to fight. He’s already turned down a fight against Moses Itauma.
If Parker wins tonight, it would be he and WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel as the most deserving for a world title shot against Usyk.
