3:1 underdog Fabio Wardley shocked Interim WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, coming from behind on the scorecards to stop Parker in the eleventh round. As expected, Wardley started slow/Parker fast. There were many back-and-forth moments from the middle rounds onward.
Wardley seemed dialed in from round nine, catching a fading Parker with stinging shots, while still absorbing whatever Parker could muster, with nary any effect. After looking close to stopping Parker in the tenth, Wardley finally turned the trick in the eleventh, rocking Parker from one end of the ring to the other. Parker’s trainer Andy Lee appeared close to stepping up on the ring apron when referee Howard Foster stepped in and halted the bout at 1:54 of the eleventh. Warsley added the Interim WBO heavyweight title to his Interim WBA title, moving to 20-0-1, 19 KOs. Parker falls to 36-4, 24 KOs. Wardley spoke in the ring afterward: “For what I lack in experience, I make up for in chin, heart, determination and will!” Parker left the ring without giving an interview.
Albanian cruiserweight Jürgen Uldedaj took on Cameroonian Rolly Lambert Fogoum for the vacant IBO title. The crowd quickly got restless with this fight as the action was one-sided and infrequent, in the favor of Uldedaj.
Unfortunately, it remained that way throughout the bout. Lambert Fogoum periodically worked hard, but was inaccurate, landing on the arms and the gloves of Uldedaj thus not scoring. Uldedaj coasted home by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 110- 108, picking up the vacant IBO cruiserweight title and improving his record 21-1, 8 KOs. Lambert Fogoum falls to 18-4-1, 14 KOs.
Ezra Taylor had his hands full with late sub Steed Woodall in a light heavyweight battle Woodall came out surprisingly sharp, working off his jab. He sent Taylor’s mouthpiece flying in the fourth. Taylor was able right the path in the sixth, hurting Woodall but unable to drop or finish him. Rounds seven and eight were more of the same, with Taylor punishing Woodall who just refused to go down. Finally, in the ninth, his corner decided discretion is the better part of valor, throwing in the towel to save their man from further punishment at 0:54 of the round. Taylor knew he was in a fight and moves to 13-0, 9 KOs. The valiant Woodall drops to 20-4-1, 12 KOs.
Featherweight Royston Barney-Smith kept his undefeated record intact against a frustrated Danny Quartermaine over 10 rounds. Quartermaine began resorting to foul tactics as he couldn’t get anything going against Barney-Smith. Finally, after several warnings, a point was deducted from Quartermaine in the seventh. Barney-Smith put the icing on the cake with a knockdown in the 10th round, sealing a 98-90 and 100-88 (twice) win, bringing Barney-Smith’s record to a spotless 15-0, 7 KOs. Quartermaine Falls to 13-2-1, KOs.
