LONDON, England — He looked ragged, stung, damaged and, most of all, exhausted, after draining firefight with a man 20 pounds heavier, but Fabio Wardley did it again.

Trailing 98-92, 96-94 on two cards with the other even through 10 rounds, the Ipswich man kept his promise to retain an unbeaten record by stopping an in-form Joseph Parker in the penultimate frame of last Saturday's DAZN PPV headliner.

Much of the post-fight discourse surrounded referee Howard Foster's intervention, when Parker was backed up against the ropes and failing to fire back. Anyone who knows the 28-year pro's referring style will point out his propensity to stop fights three punches too early rather than one too late.

In this unforgiving sport, that style is viewed negatively. Bloodthirsty fans often prefer to see a fighter the subject of a highlight-reel knockout, rather than allowed to 'fight another day'.

Parker (36-4, 24 KOs) insisted he felt fine when the contest was stopped and still has fire within to bounce back, but acknowledged time isn't on his side the same way it would be for Wardley had he lost.

This fight was meant to be about levels. Wardley's apprenticeship prepared him well for the task at hand, even while critics laughed at the suggestion he could win rounds against Parker.

"I've had a few experts texting me about it but I'm not complaining about the stoppage, if he [Foster] hadn't stepped in there and Joseph got really hurt, I'd feel even worse," Parker's manager David Higgins told The Ring afterwards.

Meanwhile, the seismic achievement is still being absorbed as Team Wardley could now afford to dream of an Oleksandr Usyk undisputed fight in early 2026. How did The Ring's No. 2-ranked heavyweight and WBO interim beltholder get here?

This week marks the two-year anniversary of Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou, on the undercard of which Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) stopped David Adeleye in seven rounds to defend his British heavyweight title.

He highlighted wins over Nathan Gorman and Adeleye - both esteemed teenage amateurs - as the turning point for where he felt he belonged. Listen to how he spoke back then and you'll hear how his self-confidence has steadily grown, foreshadowing future success with a bullish style he readily embraces.

He and Adeleye exchanged verbal jabs picking apart one another's resume, at a time neither man could really hang their hat on a signature win, though Wardley's strength of opposition - and his fan-friendly style - meant he was favoured. In their press conference two weeks prior, Wardley said:

"I'm being paid to be brought over because Frank [Warren] realises you're not what you or he thought you were, he brought me over here to get rid of you - he's betting his money on me."

Warren smiled before speaking of his excitement to put on a great heavyweight fight, one not needing ringside judges to decide the outcome. Two years later and three fights into his Queensberry contract under the Hall of Fame promoter, Wardley's journey to this juncture exemplifies why the sport is so unpredictable.

His childhood mentor and longtime coach Rob Hodgins didn't seem to think so though, having eyed Parker as a future opponent as early as that night in Saudi Arabia's capital city.

"We've known what Joseph has done in the past and felt it would be a good fight to catapult us up another level, but obviously went a different route with Frazer Clarke while he had that incredible run," he told The Ring.

"It was always in our minds that we could beat him, it was just a case of having an opportunity, now we crossed paths. With that equaliser in his hands you can never count Fabio out, he's like an old radio, give him a good whack and it'll wake him up.

"Parker hit him badly in the ninth but he just pushed on from there, he knew he was a bit behind and had that second burst of energy to come through."

Brit-basher Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) has developed a ruthless reputation on U.K. shores against the country's best over the past decade and more, but Wardley's journey from humble sparring partner to an undisputed heavyweight title fight isn't just a fairytale storyline fit for Netflix.

All those before him, including Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, had something he lacks: amateur experience, seasoning in the unpaid ranks. Wardley's unorthodox, wild style has given him the rough edges which make him an exciting watch. Couple that with high athleticism and a desire to learn, you're never really sure what's coming next.

The intangibles - engine, resilience, chin durability, punching power - some of which even poster boy Joshua has struggled with, have become Wardley's calling card.

"Fabio knew everyone kept writing him off but rather than believe it, that gives him energy and spurs him on, he shouldn't even be here but look at what he's doing," Hodgins continued.

Wardley outlanded Parker in seven of their 11 rounds per CompuBox, connecting on 34 more punches and more accurately (38% to 33.6%), landing 60 body shots and luring the older man into close quarters when it would've been wiser to stick behind the jab.

Many will pick holes at Parker's recent form and insist Usyk is too skilful to fall at this particular hurdle. Warren couldn't help wondering what Wardley's ceiling would be with some amateur experience, but it's his lack thereof that has seen his fearless attitude rewarded.

"It comes from that [pointing at his heart], it's his ticker," the promoter said."

"He's just got a massive engine and a big heart. If he had a bit of amateur experience, could you imagine? He's learning on the job."