Fabio Wardley would undoubtedly be an underdog if he indeed gets his shot at Oleksandr Usyk next.

Michael Ofo, Wardley’s manager, learned long ago, though, that Wardley’s determination, mindset and power are attributes you just can’t discount when assessing the British knockout artist’s chances against a supposedly superior fighter. The hard-hitting WBO interim heavyweight champion made a believer out of Joseph Parker and his confident handlers Saturday night, when Wardley won their thrill-filled fight by 11th-round technical knockout at O2 Arena in London.

Frank Warren, Wardley’s promoter, stated afterward that the Ispwich native could fight for Usyk’s Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts as soon as sometime in March. Warren also mentioned Wembley Stadium in London and ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as potential sites for Usyk versus Wardley.

Ukraine’s Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) is clearly more experienced, proven and skilled than Wardley, who barely had an amateur background before he made his pro debut in April 2017. Those advantages aside, Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) is 30 and still in his physical prime, whereas Usyk will turn 39 on January 17.

From Ofo’s perspective, Wardley’s penchant for disproving skeptics make him more than a live underdog against the former undisputed cruiserweight champion.

“Listen, I think one of Fabio’s gifts is his mentality,” Ofo told The Ring following Wardley’s stoppage of Parker. “And I don’t care who you are, that is gonna be something very, very hard to deal with – that he’s not gonna stop trying, he’s gonna stay committed to the goal and he’s got the power to stop you. You know, Oleksandr Usyk has been in some tough, tough fights and he’s getting older, you know? Fabio’s fresh and Fabio’s very hungry. You can never underestimate, you know, a hungry man. So, if Fabio believes that he beats Usyk, I believe that Fabio beats Usyk.”

Wardley was The Ring’s sixth-ranked contender before he upset Parker (36-4, 24 KOs), who was rated second. Parker, a former WBO champ, also entered their fight as a 4-1 favorite according to DraftKings.

“I thought it was gonna happen,” Ofo said regarding Wardley’s upset. “You know, it’s not new news to me what Fabio Wardley can do. I’ve got a hundred-percent belief that when Fabio gets anybody going he’s the best finisher in the world, you know? I just felt he mentally out-done Parker, just out-toughed him mentally, and then got him out of there.”

New Zealand’s Parker was on a remarkable run before Saturday night that included three straight wins against former WBC champ Deontay Wilder, onetime WBO interim champ Zhilei Zhang and heavy-handed contender Martin Bakole, who replaced Daniel Dubois on very short notice.

“[Wardley] just proved why he’s the best heavyweight in the world,” Ofo said. “But obviously Usyk, and that’s the next challenge. The next challenge will be Oleksandr Usyk.”