View Image

Joseph Parker was leading on two of the three judges' scorecards when his bout with Fabio Wardley was halted in the 11th round.

Parker had risked his opportunity at undisputed heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk by facing Brit Wardley, but his gamble went wrong. Wardley unleashed a barrage on Parker against the ropes in the penultimate round as referee Howard Foster intervened, a decision that sparked immediate criticism on social media.

Former world champion Tony Bellew was amongst those to voice their opinion, stating: "That's a bad stoppage! At this level of boxing the stoppage has to be definitive! That wasn't! Well done to both fighters by the way! Really good competitive fight."

Parker declined to criticise the referee but maintained he wasn't injured when the

See Full Page