Error code: %{errorCode}
I started boxing just 10 years ago and now I’m one fight away from a world title shot
Fabio Wardley's rise to heavyweight boxing's top table is an unconventional one.
Traditionally, boxing's most successful fighters begin their journey in the amateur ranks, learning the tips of the trade before turning professional.
Wardley's boxing journey however, started on the White Collar scene before deciding to make boxing his day job eight years ago.
For someone with no amateur pedigree, it would be expected that Wardley would become someone used as a punching bag by the next generation of heavyweight stars.
Instead, he has taken heavyweight boxing by storm!
Making his way through the ranks with all but one of his 19 wins coming by way of knockout, Wardley has become a must-watch attraction inside the ring.
A seventh round knockout in the British heavyweight title fight against David Adeleye in 2023 was Wardley's breakout moment.
Then came the two British heavyweight title fights with Frazer Clarke, the first ending in a draw before Wardley knocked out the Olympian in a rematch.
In June, a dream became reality for Wardley as he headlined a fight night at Portman Road against Justis Huni. At one point, it looked like the party would be spoiled, Huni was outboxing Wardley with ease, but Wardley turned the fight on its head in the tenth, landing a right hand to bring the contest to an abrupt end.
This boxing story and the moments that have come along the way are fit for a movie, and speaking to DAZN ahead of his next bout, Wardley already has a title in mind.
"I’ve got the Netflix title already in my head, White Collar to World Champion," Wardley said.
"It’s movie stuff, my fight at Portman Road was movie stuff, the first fight with Frazer Clarke, movie stuff.
"They are things I want to pride my career on, all said and done I’ll have ‘x’ amount of achievements, milestones, belts. I want to be looked at by boxers, and the wider boxing community as an entertaining fighter."
One of Wardley's best attributes is embracing a challenge, and his next fight is just that.
On Saturday, October 25, exclusively live on DAZN PPV, Wardley will be facing Joseph Parker, one of heavyweight boxing's most in-form fighters.
The contest will be staged at London's O2 Arena and for Wardley, this is a major step up from his last outing against Huni.
As a result, the stakes are higher, Wardley and Parker are interim champions with the WBA and WBO respectively, therefore the winner should be the next in line to face the current undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Reflecting on his boxing career so far, Wardley made a point that he is someone who wants to keep moving forward and if he manages to beat Parker later this month, then his Hollywood story will continue and reach unfathomable heights.
"Nine, 10 at the max, I started when I was 20, I’m 30 now, so 10 years," Wardley began.
"When I had my first pro fight, I thought ‘I love this, I love the buzz’, it was at York Hall. I thought if I do this and maybe if I win an English, and maybe even if I just fight for the British title on a big show, or on the undercard, just once, and I win, lose, whatever, that would be perfect.
"I was sat with Dev the other day doing an interview and I’ve fought at the O2, eight, nine times now, chief support to Fury and AJ, Dillian Whyte, I’ve picked up titles here, there, everywhere.
"It’s been a very conscious effort for me to not sit too long at any point in my career."
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.
