Joseph Parker faces Fabio Wardley tonight at London's O2 Arena in a heavyweight clash that will determine who gets the next shot at undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. The winner of this interim title unification bout moves one step closer to boxing's biggest prize.
Both fighters hold interim heavyweight belts, with Wardley defending his WBA interim title against Parker's WBO interim championship. Ring walks begin at 10pm BST, with the first bell sounding just after 10:20pm.
Tonight's viewing details
The fight broadcasts exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view for £24.99. The main card begins at 7pm BST, building towards the headline bout three hours later.
DAZN subscribers can access the fight through the streaming platform's website or mobile app. New customers receive either a free month with an annual plan or a seven-day trial.
High stakes for both fighters
Parker previously held the heavyweight championship in 2016 before losing to Anthony Joshua two years later. His subsequent comeback attempts were derailed by defeats to Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce.
The New Zealand fighter has since rebuilt his career with victories over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole. According to the Evening Standard, Parker chose to fight Wardley rather than wait for Usyk's recovery from a back injury.
Wardley's rapid rise
Wardley has emerged from white-collar boxing to become Britain's leading heavyweight contender. The Evening Standard reports his controversial tenth-round knockout of Justis Huni earlier this year was delivered while trailing on the scorecards, demonstrating his knockout power.
Parker acknowledged Wardley's unconventional path: "With the white-collar background, not going through the same route that other fighters have been through like being an amateur and going around the world, so to do what he's done, it is quite amazing."
Fighter perspectives
Wardley embraces his underdog status and the scrutiny that comes with his background. "For me there will always be something to prove," he said. "There is always a but on the end of why I got the win. I feel like there is always going to be something to prove."
The British fighter sees this as motivation rather than pressure. "I don't mind that, it's something I enjoy to be honest. I keep surpassing expectations then listening to the new things people have to come up with."
Full fight card
The undercard features Juergen Uldedaj vs Rolly Lambert Fogoum, Ezra Taylor vs Steed Woodall, and Mitchell Smith vs Arnie Dawson. Additional bouts include Danny Quartermaine vs Royston Barney-Smith and Tony Curtis vs Lakshmy Zaragoza Contreras.
Supporting fights also showcase Zayn Ahmed vs Engel Gomez, Jimmydean Wood vs Artjom Spatar, George Crotty vs Bahadur Karami, Anton Esson vs Jordan Ellison, and Hassan Ishaq vs Jake Pollard.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Mirror", "Scotsman", "Evening Standard" Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
