After months of quietude, boxing’s premier weight class witnessed a major churn. Oleksandr Usyk sits comfortably on his throne, at least for now. However, the race for heir apparent seemingly took a turn. Joseph Parker is no longer an interim champion. Delivering an absolute thriller, the New Zealander lost his claim to Usyk’s crown to Fabio Wardley last Saturday. While the referee’s decision to stop the fight in the eleventh round did raise a furor, a clamor for a rematch between the two has surfaced.

Considering how Joseph Parker was so close to a dream clash with Oleksandr Usyk, the latest development has sparked a wave of sympathy for the heavyweight fighter. Among those who expressed their solidarity with Parker was Tyson Fury, his former sparring partner. For the former champion, the connection is all the more personal since Parker’s trainer, Andy Lee, happens to be his cousin. A day after the match at the O2 Arena, Fury reflected on Parker’s loss, sharing his own experience with setbacks.

Tyson Fury’s heartfelt shout-out to Joseph Parker after the Wardley bout

Several of the outlets shared the Gypsy King‘s message. “Morning, guys, the aftermath of a fantastic, fantastic fight last night between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley. The fight was an amazing fight. Both fighters had a lot of success,” he began. He felt that Joseph Parker was winning the fight by about four rounds on points before the start of the 11th round.

However, it’s the heavyweight division, where anything can happen. “You can’t go swimming and not get wet,” Fury said, emphasizing how Parker ‘got wet’ and the referee had to intervene to stop the bout. Recalling his own setback, Fury added, “You know, it’s one of those things a heavyweight boxer could get caught doing. I know all about getting caught.”

Fury congratulated his promoter, Frank Warren, and the team at Queensberry Promotions for organizing a splendid event. He stated that Joseph Parker would bounce back from the loss. Glad that everyone associated with the fight returned home safely, he wished them all the best.

Now a WBA and WBO interim champion to Oleksandr Usyk’s title, Fabio Wardley has solidified his place in the race for a much-coveted title shot.

Disappointed but determined: Joseph Parker eyes a comeback

Though he feels sorry for Joseph Parker, Tyson Fury, who still nurses the bitterness of two back-to-back losses to the Ukrainian champion, believes Fabio Wardley probably has the best shot at staging a coup d’état.

While speaking to Boxing King Media, Fury extended an unexpected appreciation for his archrival. He said, “Usyk is a special talent. He’s a good boxer.” But he also cautioned, “But Fabio is a dangerous puncher; I’m sure if he hits anybody, he’ll knock them out. He’s very strong and carries his power for a long time, so he did really well against Parker.”

For Joseph Parker, it’s frustratingly back to square one. After the KO loss to Joe Joyce, he rebuilt his career piece by piece, claiming wins over a slew of big names. He was just one fight short of a face-off with Usyk. However, boxing dynamics placed him in the ring opposite Fabio Wardley.

Expressing his disappointment at the outcome, he hopes for a rematch with the British heavyweight. “This is just a bump in the road, and I’m still going to carry on. I felt good out there. I still have the fire in me; it still burns, and I guess I have to show that in the next fight,” he said post-fight, ruling out any retirement.

Fans should hopefully see this exciting fighter regroup soon for yet another thriller.

Do you think the Parker-Wardley rematch should happen immediately?