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Fabio Wardley secured a huge upset to shatter Joseph Parker's dreams of earning a double world heavyweight champion on Saturday and placed himself in contention for a opportunity at perfect champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Stunning Comeback Victory

The UK fighter is now the top contender for the Ukrainian after he earned a impressive comeback victory by stopping the seasoned New Zealander in the 11th round of an entertaining and bruising battle at London's O2 Arena.

Wardley, 30, secured the WBO 'interim' title when he compelled referee Howard Foster to halt the bout as he attacked previous world champion Parker, who had been hurt badly in the 10th by a right-handed uppercut.

Powerful Celebration

The Ipswich native raised the crowd to their feet and fell to the floor in jubilation as his corner team rushed into the ring to celebrate.

They were magnificent scenes as the former white-collar boxer continued his extraordinary rise in the professional ranks.

Controversial Stoppage

There was an argument that the halt was early, especially given Parker had controlled for large parts of the fight and hurt Wardley multiple occasions with straight rights.

But the 33-year-old New Zealander gave little protest when Foster intervened and his trainer Andy Lee did not look to protest as his man suffered his fourth career defeat.

Wardley's After-Match Comments

"I stated all the way through this preparation that we chose Joseph Parker because I believe I'm at the top and I showed I'm at the top," stated Wardley.

"All praise to Joseph, he can't get enough respect and he merits all the admiration from the boxing fraternity. He accepted a chance when he didn't have to, and we knew he wasn't going anywhere quickly. We had to choose our spots and ultimately we got them out of there."

Critical Moment

It was a right-handed uppercut from Wardley in the 10th round which turned the bout firmly back in favour of the longshot.

This was Wardley's 20th career win and his most crucial. Usyk now likely awaits early next year.

Parker risked his position as the top contender for Usyk's championship by undertaking this fight, falling to his fourth professional defeat.

Promoter's Positive Outlook

Wardley's promoter Frank Warren stated to DAZN: "Usyk declared he wants to do it, so that's what it will be. It's a thirty-six minute fight and it only needs one second from him."

Wardley's Remarkable Journey Advances

It was a top names of the British heavyweight division in the arena with Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma, Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte among the onlookers.

Usyk was not here, but he was the man this bout was all for.

Wardley proceeded to the ring adorned in Ipswich Town hues with the football club's badge featured on his kit.

Notable Career Progression

He spoke in the build-up how it was extraordinary that when Parker was winning the WBO heavyweight title in 2016, he was only fighting in white-collar boxing.

Yet here he was on the identical platform as the veteran Kiwi in a fight to determine the next challenger for Usyk, the top heavyweight of this generation.

Fight Analysis

With Lee in his corner, Parker was on a winning run coming into this bout of six victories including successes over the likes of Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder and Martin Bakole.

As cries of 'Oh Fabio Wardley' echoed around the arena, Parker gained control with a ramrod of a jab that soon brought blood from the bridge of the Ipswich fighter's nose.

The finish to the first three minutes was decisive from the favourite as Parker stormed through with a strong of a right hand.

Dramatic Momentum Shift

Parker's control evaporated when a right hand from Wardley rocked him in the second.

It would be a forerunner to what would happen later in the fight. It was a beautiful shot and raised those ringside to their feet as the New Zealander looked unsteady on his.

The experience of Parker, in his 40th professional fight, looked like it was going to be vital here. Wardley was always risky, but Parker was hitting the better shots through the intermediate rounds.

Last Rounds and Victory

The Kiwi's left uppercuts to the body and right hands over the top were a notable feature, but Wardley's own backhand remained a threat.

The fight seemed to be losing steam in the eighth before it exploded back into life and turned firmly back in Wardley's favour in the 10th.

He guaranteed his amazing story would get another chapter against Usyk when he swarmed Parker in the 11th with a volley of shots which forced Foster to intervene.

It may have been quick but Wardley will claim that Parker was taking substantial punishment.

Usyk Showdown - What Next for Wardley?

Usyk applied for a medical exemption to delay his compulsory defence of the WBO title because of a back injury, but his consultant Serge Lapin recently confirmed that the undefeated champion was ready to face the successful fighter of this bout.

Warren will now look to make that fight next year for his man.

Rapid Ascent to the Top

With just twenty-one career fights on the back of no amateur background having come from the white-collar scene, Wardley is still inexperienced and his rise to this level has been substantially fast tracked.

But now he is in a position to face the finest heavyweight of this era which is a dramatic tale.

Parker's Future Considerations

Parker will now have to deliberately think about his next step, given his age and how long he has been competing at the top level.

He accepted a significant gamble here and his opportunities of reclaiming a share of the world heavyweight crown have been diminished.