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Can Joseph Parker pose a real threat to Oleksandr Usyk's undisputed crown?
Sitting down for DAZN’s “The Final Words Before Fight Night” segment, Joseph Parker got some last-minute reassurance and perhaps an extra kick of motivation to go along with this weekend.
Heading into his Saturday night fight against Fabio Wardley at London’s The O2 Arena, and live and exclusive on DAZN Pay-Per-View, Parker was told that undisputed heavyweight ruler Oleksandr Usyk will likely fight the winner of this bout.
“Nice,” Parker said, flashing a wide grin and giving cameras two thumbs up. “Very nice to hear. See you soon.”
A convincing win over Wardley, the WBA interim heavyweight titleholder, and the WBO interim heavyweight champ Parker could very well get Usyk in the ring next for a must-see 2026 showdown.
But could Parker pose a genuine threat to an all-time generational great in the undefeated Usyk?
Well, it is possible.
Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) enters this weekend’s action riding a six-fight win streak which has included signature performances on the tail end with a unanimous decision over Deontay Wilder in December 2023 and a majority decision over Zhilei Zhang the next March followed by his second-round TKO of Martin Bakole this past February.
These wins have given Parker, 33, a newfound confidence and career resurgence.
The New Zealander and former WBO world heavyweight champion is not the same boxer who suffered back-to-back losses to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte less than four months apart in 2018.
He is not the same fighter who was stopped for the first time in his career via an 11th round knockout loss to Joe Joyce in September 2022.
Parker has grown tremendously since then — with sweet science skills and ring savvy.
He is picking his spots with timing, being the first to the punch and overwhelming opponents via both boxing brilliance and power.
The unforeseen upset of Wilder had Parker putting forth a boxing clinic, even coming close to stopping ‘The Bronze Bomber’ with hellacious overhand rights amidst a barrage of shots in the eighth round en route to cruising to victory.
Less than three months later, he earned another points victory, this time against a bigger man in ‘Big Bang’ Zhang, getting off the canvas twice but still landing the cleaner potshots and output to have his hand raised.
The win over Bakole reopened eyes to Parker’s power as he demolished the Congolese heavyweight, putting him on spaghetti legs with a vicious overhand right.
Parker has not minced words, telling Wardley to his face that he envisions delivering a knockout this weekend.
The New Zealander does just that and he will be stepping into his prime that much further against Usyk next year.
Will it be enough to solve the severe complexities the Ukrainian presents in the ring?
That remains to be seen, though Parker will have more than earned the opportunity.
While Usyk has to be involved in GOAT discussions, this second wave of renaissance Parker is riding has been pretty special, too.
Figuring out Usyk somehow, some way, and that wave would roar. But to approach that mammoth task, defeating Wardley must be handled first.
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.
