Heavyweight boxing is back this weekend with Kiwi former champ Joseph Parker locking horns with undefeated English knockout artist Fabio Wardley — and the stakes are extremely high.
Parker has grown used to things not working out like he wants them to. Twice this year, the star has been denied the chance to bid for a second reign as world champion.
First, it was Daniel Dubois, the then-IBF champion in February, who pulled up ill before the New Zealander was due to challenge him for his prized crown in Riyadh.
Then, it was Oleksandr Usyk, who petitioned the WBO for an extension on a mandatory order, claiming injury would prevent a fair defence of his undisputed crown this year.
Both times, Parker has been forced to play the waiting game. In Saudi Arabia earlier this year, he made the mo