Fabio Wardley says it is ‘refreshing’ to be the ‘underdog’ in his Joseph Parker bout

October 23, 2025

The Bariasta, 30, is due to face Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa, 33, at London’s O2 Arena on October 25, though Wardley doesn’t mind the fact Parker is entering the ring as the favorite.

Speaking with talkSPORT Boxing, Wardley said: “They all have me as the underdog, which is quite refreshing to me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been at that end of the stick. The pressure is off of me.” Even so, the WBA interim heavyweight champion thinks he has what it takes to cause a major upset.

He explained: “I know where Joe has his weak points, and I’m looking to exploit them on Saturday night.

“It’s a very obvious carrot that is being dangled ahead of me and Joe. It’s the fight. It’s the biggest fight in boxing.”

Wardley argued that despite being considered the “underdog”, he had not stayed “stagnant” and was ready for Parker.

He told Boxing Scene: “I’m not one to sit still and stay stagnant, no matter what’s going on around me.

“I feel like there’s always another avenue, there’s always another angle, there’s always another route. And that is very much something me and the team discussed: not staying still.

“If things aren’t moving in the way we initially planned or wanted them to, then how do we pivot? What’s the next best option? What’s the next best angle? And in this circumstance, it was Joseph Parker.

“One thing I think you'd be able to say about me is I've never shied away from a fight. I've never said no to anyone.

“I’ve never turned a fight down, no matter the competitor, no matter the level, no matter the stage I was at. I’ve always pushed myself and strived for more. So this is just another example of that.”

If Wardley defeats Parker on Saturday (10.25.25), he will become the mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s, 38, WBO heavyweight belt, and The Barista thinks he is “the next one” to face The Cat.

He told Queensbury: “When it all happens, it will be a wild ride and weird full circle moment, but I think I am next up.

“I have been chasing this for 20-odd fights now and I’ve got one to go, then I’m there so there’s no stopping now.”