Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley have both forced the issue by becoming the WBO and WBA interim heavyweight champions, respectively.

Now, with a crack at undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk waiting in the balance, Parker and Wardley will clash tonight at London’s The O2 Arena, and live and exclusive on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

At 33, Parker (36-3, 24 knockouts) is experiencing a career resurgence, having won six fights in a row including his devastating second-round TKO of Martin Bakole in February. The former WBO heavyweight world champion will be up against a surging Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) who was thoroughly outboxed by Justis Huni in their June fight before uncorking a massive right hook for the electric 10^th-round KO.

With this being a high-stakes showdown, DAZN News analyzes who has the edge between the New Zealander and Briton entering this heavyweight tilt.

Boxing Styles

Joseph Parker is a boxer-puncher heavyweight who can beat opponents with the sweet science or with clean, heavy-handed shots.

A rhythm fighter, the current WBO interim heavyweight titleholder and former WBO heavyweight world champ works efficiently off feints, finding a home with the stab jab before cleverly disguising upstairs shots.

He will be up against the blunt power of Fabio Wardley who is capable of changing the complexion of a fight with one shot as evidenced in his last bout against Justis Huni.

Wardley shows comfort punching in traffic, while stuck in the phone booth with opponents.

Though if there is one push in this clash of styles, it could be Wardley’s lax guard which Parker can exploit with his ring savvy and right hand.

The advantage here goes to the New Zealander.

Edge: Parker

Power

Blasting Martin Bakole in the head with a massive overhand right to put the Congolese fighter on jelly legs toward a second-round TKO demonstrated Parker’s power.

That 24 of his 36 victories have come by knockout just marks further evidence.

However, Wardley’s one-punch power packs a whopping 94.7 percent knockout rate.

That said, is there a top-tier heavyweight who is not capable of altering or ending a fight with one punch?

Still, the slight edge in the power category goes to the English boxer.

Edge: Wardley

Mental Warfare

Sitting across from Wardley during DAZN’s FACE OFF segment, Parker directly told his impending opponent that he can envision his hand being raised via knockout victory.

Then, having a chance to further reflect on that premonition, Parker added during DAZN’s “The Final Words Before Fight Night” that he feels no pressure because he is fully prepared.

“The knockout will come,” Parker said. “If I enjoy my work and do exactly what I know I could do, it’s going to be a great victory for our team.”

Within these words exudes a confidence of a fighter who is feeling like he is in his prime.

Wardley, too, is confident, saying that Parker is the name or “scalp” he needs to elevate his fighting profile.

But in the adage of there’s levels to boxing, Parker has the chance and ability to show he is of a superior class, with the experience against a higher quality of opponents to help lead his way.

Edge: Parker

Who has the edge in Parker vs Wardley?

Agile for a heavyweight, Parker packs the boxing ability and power to defeat Wardley via points or stoppage, depending on how Saturday night’s bout goes.

It is why DAZN News is giving him the 2-1 edge heading into this heavyweight showdown.

Wardley can bluntly change this in the ring, but if it is truly Parker’s time, the New Zealander should deliver enough of a convincing victory to have boxing fans ready and believing that he could pose a threat to Oleksandr Usyk’s crown.

Watch Parker vs. Wardley live on DAZN

Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley fight on Saturday, October 25, to become the WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk. Watch the fight and undercard live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.

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