Referee Howard Foster’s controversial call to wave off Joseph Parker’s fight with Fabio Wardley in the 11th round Saturday in London divided the boxing world. While some feel Parker’s limited response to Wardley’s sustained attack in the deciding frame justified Foster’s call to halt their contest, many have criticized the stoppage as being premature and unfairly favorable to the home fighter, Wardley.
“You know, I am,” Parker told Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Monday when asked whether he’s upset by the stoppage.
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“I did feel that the fight was going back and forth, and I was leading on the scorecards, I do believe. In the 11th round, when he had that flurry, there were some punches that caught me, and also I was dodging and weaving and moving, and when he [threw] the last three punches [before the stoppage], I was aware of what was happening.
“When the ref jumped in, I was like, ‘Hey, I’m fine.’ But I guess it’s not my job to decide whether or not the fight can continue, you know? I can sit here and complain, I can sit here and go back and forth and say, ‘Poor me.’ Listen, what can you do? Accept it and take it on the chin and move on.”
Even though Parker is just 48 hours removed from losing his WBO interim heavyweight title — and a dream shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed crown — he refuses to feel sorry for himself.
Parker said Monday that he accepts the decision was out of his hands and he isn’t bitter or resentful about the outcome of the fight — and the many millions of dollars it might’ve cost him. Such a measured response is rarely seen in the sport; the vast majority of fighters would try to force a rematch through public pressure, but Parker’s maturity and professionalism refuse to let him be anything but classy.
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“I think it’s having the right people around you,” Parker explained of his reaction to the loss. “Listen, I prayed before the fight. I did everything right, trained hard, and prayed, and I said, ‘Whatever happens, happens’ — and this is what happened. As much as I can go on about, ‘Listen, this is unfair and the fight should’ve continued on,’ I can say all of this, but it’s not going to change anything.
“Boxing is very unpredictable. What’s the best way to overcome it? You just have to accept it and move on, because if you keep thinking about it, it’s just going to eat away at you.”
Foster, the referee, is no stranger to being at the center of officiating controversies; after all, he was the referee behind the infamous ending to the first Carl Froch vs. George Groves fight in 2013. That stoppage was so heavily criticized, the IBF made the rare decision to order a rematch between the pair, and it paved the way for one of the biggest fights in British boxing in recent years.
“I never knew of any of his history that sort of came with his style of [refereeing],” Parker said. “But for me, and being in my fight, I did feel like he stopped it prematurely. I was aware [that] I got caught a few times, but [I was] also dodging a lot of punches, and I wanted to continue, but again, that’s not my job. My job is not to say whether or not I can continue — that’s his job. [I’ve] just got to respect what he says. And it’s a tough one to take.”
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Parker was ahead by scores of 98-92 and 96-94 at the time of the stoppage, while a third scorecard had the contest even. It marks the second consecutive bout that Wardley has pulled out a come-from-behind finish in the championship rounds, as Wardley knocked out Justis Huni in the 10th round in June after being outboxed for the majority of the fight. Had Parker survived Wardley’s onslaught in the penultimate frame, there is every chance — theoretically — that he could’ve salvaged a draw and retained his interim title.
“I’d love to take [a rematch with Wardley] in a heartbeat,” Parker said. “Give me the rematch — I’m ready to fight next month or in the next few months. If Usyk is not available, I’m here. I’m ready. Let’s do it again.”
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While Parker hopes for a second meeting with Wardley, it’s far more likely Wardley goes on to challenge for Usyk’s four belts in a stadium show in London next summer. Parker, at the tail-end of his career, may now have to rebuild for another shot at a heavyweight championship. The former champ managed a pair of separate six-fight win streaks prior to his past two losses and may need a similarly strong run to force a mandatory position in a loaded division.
“If [Usyk vs. Wardley] gets locked in, then I want to chase another fight for sure,” Parker said. “I don’t want to be sitting around waiting for too long, no.
“I am coming back. I’m going to be in boxing for a little more, and I just want to give it everything I have. I know I can perform better than what I did, but there’s no point talking about it and saying it, I just have to come out and show it and do it.
“There’s [Anthony] Joshua, there’s Daniel Dubois, [Agit] Kabayel, there’s [Filip] Hrgovic — there’s a few options out there. I’m sure we can make a big fight happen, one of these top fighters.”
Fabio Wardley punches Joseph Parker during their heavyweight fight in London.
(Richard Pelham via Getty Images)
After stints with all three of the major promoters in Britain, Parker could be entering the next chapter of his career as a promotional free agent.
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“I have an option to fight with Frank [Warren’s Queensberry Promotions], or we can go on and do our own fight,” Parker said of his situation, noting that Queensberry is “probably” happy with Wardley winning.
“Fabio Wardley’s one of their own. He’s a fighter from this side of the world. He’s not from New Zealand, he’s not from Samoa, he’s not from Australia — he’s from here. You just have to accept it.”
With Queensberry promoting most of the top current heavyweights, Parker’s future — whether inside or outside that stable — will likely still run through its fighters. Three of the four opponents he named, for example, are promoted by Warren, while Joshua remains aligned with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom.
Parker has history with Joshua and Dubois; he fell short against Joshua in a 2018 unification fight that was again mired in a refereeing controversy after Giuseppe Quartarone prevented Parker from working on the inside against the taller Joshua. The New Zealander was supposed to challenge for Dubois’ IBF heavyweight belt earlier this year, however Dubois withdrew with illness on the week of the contest and it was never rescheduled.
