LONDON, England — Although this fight was confirmed on relatively short notice, there's a weariness following the build-up to Joseph Parker-Fabio Wardley this weekend.

Whether just fatigue at a time where undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, who awaits the winner, rehabs from a back injury, or an underwhelming undercard offering, Saturday's O2 Arena show, exclusively on DAZN PPV, hasn't quite set alight like others in previous years.

Last summer's offering in southeast London was headlined by Derek Chisora's defiant 10-round decision win over a fading Joe Joyce, though then 9-0 heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma stole the show earlier that night with an explosive second-round stoppage of Mariusz Wach.

The 20-year-old's won three since and not been out of round two in any of those either, carrying a certain electricity that two well-mannered 30-and-above contenders can't match.

Itauma's gymmate Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) knows a massive night awaits, one neither can lose. Yet as he's maintained since September 1, his unorthodox background will serve him well.

"When it gets gritty and the lights are bright, the best Wardley turns up," he said at Thursday's press conference. "The O2 is a home away from home, I'll have the extra man in the ring with me and bring something that not any boxer has seen.

"It's few and far between that someone from my background has come here [to this point], I wasn't brought up in the same school as everyone else, taking pieces [of inspiration] for myself, changes and flows, it'll be different, keep things fluid."

New Zealander Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) was in no mood to entertain Team Wardley's confident demeanour this time around.

"I respect him but I'm on a different level and will show it," he said.

How exactly? He was pressed by Queensberry host Dev Sahni.

"You'll see, I will explain with my actions - not my words," the former world champion added. "I'm only getting into my prime now, it's the wrong time to take this because I'm going to smash him. He believes in himself but I'm going to win, he'll learn that it's okay to have a loss, got enough time to come back. I don't care about who is next, just focus on Saturday."

Ouch.

Wardley's manager Michael Ofo insisted they didn't need to buy a lottery ticket, for this weekend would exemplify all of the decade-long hard work they have been building.

"The world has seen vulnerabilities in Parker - not just us - Fabio always wants to challenge us as a team and it's a sink-or-swim mentality, he's too quick, powerful and youthful. Wardley will stop Parker in great fashion, there's no lack of confidence, he's just part of the story."

"Thanks for your opinion," Parker fired back.

As evidenced by their stern face-off, the pair have a mutual respect for one another's skills but are all talked out. Usyk will be ringside, a timely reminder of the prize awaiting them in early 2026.

Saturday night can't come soon enough.