Joseph Parker had everything under control … Until he didn’t.
Parker’s opponent at the O2 Arena, Fabio Wardley, was down six rounds going into the 11th. But none of that mattered after Wardley caught Parker with a booming right hand less than two minutes into the penultimate round. With Parker on the ropes, Wardley unleashed an onslaught of strikes that prompted referee Howard Foster to step in and bring an end to the bout.
Pundits and fight fans immediately lambasted the controversial finish on social media, including renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani.