Justis Huni, Joseph Parker, Jai Opetaia … it’s a fair hit list.
And one new British boxing sensation Fabio Wardley reckons could be his.
But first, an apology.
“Because it looks like I’ve got a vendetta against your side of the world,” laughs the big punching Pom.
Parker vs Wardley | SUNDAY 26 OCT 4AM AEDT | A classic heavyweight showdown takes place at the 02 Arena in London, as NZ’s Joseph Parker takes on Fabio Wardley. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
A fighter too, already well known to Australian fight fans, what with him having KO’d Huni in June via that now infamous right hand bomb.
“So it looks like I’m picking your guys out and attacking them,” he continues.
“But honestly, it’s not at the case at all.
“It’s just that you guys down there are producing such great heavyweights.
“And if I beat Joseph Parker, the number two, maybe number three heavyweight in the world – however you want to look at it – there’s not really much left to be said.”
Only four months after icing Huni – aka Australia’s No.1 heavyweight – with a devastating right, 30-year-old Wardley is now looking to double down against that greatest of New Zealand’s big men.
And should the undefeated Englishman upset Parker, a former world champion who now sits on the cusp of a surprise second reign, and inside what will be a heaving 02 Arena in London this Sunday, he then wants straight into a bout with undisputed division king Oleksandr Usyk.
And from there?
Well, Opetaia isn’t out of the question, either.
Which again, would be some run.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Wardley has also revealed how it was the slightest Huni error – a “hop”, in fact – which started this whole thing.
That, and effectively provided him the motivation to then go straight into the huge challenge that is interim WBO champ Parker.
IPSWICH, ENGLAND – JUNE 07: Referee John Latham counts down Justis Huni after being knocked down by Fabio Wardley which subsequently ended the bout during their heavyweight fight the ‘Running Towards Adversity’ Queensberry Promotions card at Portman Road on June 07, 2025 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Understanding how back in June, when throwing down against Huni for the interim WBA heavyweight strap, this hulking Brit entered the tenth well behind on the scorecards when … thwack.
He denoted a bomb which changed the fight, and plenty more.
Apart from declaring himself a much stronger chance now against Parker than his $3.80 TAB odds suggest, Wardley has also responded to the Kiwi’s repeated suggestions about boxing being all about levels – which is another way of suggesting this newest of UK title contenders isn’t at his.
So as for Wardley’s response?
“The idea of there being levels to this sport,” he replied, “isn’t something I disagree with.
“You can’t just run around saying ‘I’m top five in the world, I’m the next world champion, whatever’. You can’t only say it.
“At some point in this game, you have to prove it.
“And that’s exactly what I’m looking to do in this fight.
“It’s why [Parker] is the one I’ve chosen in that sense.
“I’ve been going for a while now saying I believe I’m at that top level, I should be mixing with those top fighters.
“But what’s been missing is a competitive fight with one of those guys.
“He is the best of the lot I can pick …. so that’s the one I can go for.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Fabio Wardley and Joseph Parker go head to head as promoter Frank Warren looks on during a press conference ahead of their heavyweight fight on the ‘All of Nothing’ Queensbury fight card at Glaziers Hall on September 09, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Which, again, goes back to his most recent performance against Huni.
“While there were a few different names to choose from,” Wardley continued of where things could go after beating the Australian, “we quickly landed on Parker.
“One, because of his position with the WBO, being next in line for Usyk.
“But also coming off the back of that Huni fight – and how well Justis boxed – it’s obviously put question marks around me, my abilities and skills.
“So I’ve thought ‘right, I have a point to prove here, I have to take on a top level competitor’.
“And don’t get me wrong, with some of the other names I could’ve picked, I’m not saying I wouldn’t have got credit with those wins.
“But there still would’ve been question marks.
“This fight though, it removes all question marks.”
Which undeniably, could see you put another whopping dent into heavyweight boxing on our side of the planet, right?
“It’s the only reservation I had about taking this fight,” Wardley jokes, smile widening again. “Like I’ve got this vendetta on your side of the world.”
On Opetaia, meanwhile, Wardley said that while he has already seen plenty of his cruiserweight successes, and even interviewed him during a fight week in Saudi Arabia, he hasn’t given much thought of him as a rival – yet.
“But I know Jai’s flirted with the idea of moving up,” Wardley said. “And when he does, that’s when he’ll ping on my radar.
“I’ve already watched a number of his fights, and have even interviewed him previously, when I had a broadcasting role on one of the Saudi shows
“Jai’s a really entertaining fighter and he’s clearly a massive danger at cruiserweight.
“And stepping up to heavyweight, I can’t see how he isn’t a hard night’s work for a bunch of people in this division.”
Elsewhere, Wardley spoke of facing Usyk, too.
That undisputed heavyweight champ who, just quietly, he knows more than a little about — given back in 2018, he jetted into Ukraine for what would eventually be two stints sparring the man for whom he becomes mandatory with a win next up.
Britain’s Fabio Wardley celebrates winning his fight against Australia’s Justis Huni, during their interim WBA heavyweight title boxing match at Portman Road Stadium, in Ipswich, England, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)Source: AP
Indeed, despite whispers suggesting Usyk could vacate the WBO strap rather than face whoever wins Sunday’s interim crown – currently held by Parker – the Englishman himself can’t see it.
“What Usyk does will be a question for him,” the fighter started. “But whether he wants to [fight me] or not will be null and void.
“It’s been mandated by the WBO that the winner of this fight will face him. So going forward he has to fight the winner of this fight, it’s not about whether he feels up to it or not …”
So as for talk of him potentially vacating to instead take a lucrative bout against, say, a Tyson Fury trilogy?
“I don’t see Usyk as that kind of guy,” he replied.
“And I know him.
“I’ve spent a good amount of time with the guy, have a good relationship with him.
“And from what I know of him, I don’t see him as someone to shy away from a challenge.
“He’s a man focused on legacy, and stacking wins on top of each other for that.”
Unthinkable not so long ago, when Wardley’s fight pedigree extended no further than a couple of corporate fight nights, this fella boasting British, Commonwealth and European titles now stands on the cusp of Next Big Thing status.
Sure, he may be an almost $4 outsider for Sunday’s showdown against Parker — that interim champ who is himself on the type of tear that reads Deontay Wilder, Big Bang Zhang and, most recently, the finish of no less than Martin Bakole within two rounds.
But remember it was only four months ago against Huni when Wardley seemed not simply down, but gone, as Australia’s great heavyweight hope was boxing his way to what seemed a lopsided decision upset.
Parker vs Wardley | SUNDAY 26 OCT 4AM AEDT | A classic heavyweight showdown takes place at the 02 Arena in London, as NZ’s Joseph Parker takes on Fabio Wardley. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Joseph Parker and Jai Opetaia are both on Fabio Wardley’s hit list.Source: Getty Images
Then, thwack.
Into the tenth, and deader than disco, Wardley let fire with a brutal right hand.
Asked what Huni had done to create said opening, Wardley continued: “Overall, not a lot.
“Justis is one hell of a fighter and was boxing really well, piecing things together nicely.
“So it was about round seven, round eight, where as a team, we just adjusted the game plan.
“I’d been trying to hunt him down quite a bit. Chase him and put the pressure on.
“So we swapped that to backing up a bit and drawing him into space.
“And it worked.
“Justis was feeling the momentum of the fight going his way, he was picking up rounds, boxing well … it can be a gift and a curse in a sense.”
Huh?
“Because when you’re giving extra momentum to yourself,” Wardley continued, “when you’re telling yourself ‘you know what? I’m you’re doing well here, picking up the pace, kicking on’, sometimes you can do too much.
“Try too hard to get that extra work off.
“I was backing up, backing up, drawing Justis in.
“Then I tested a punch, and looked at his reaction.
“Soon after, same again.
“So I thought ‘next one I’m going for it …’.”
Asked for specifics, Wardley continued: “I was throwing a lot of body jabs and Justis would take the jab, then do a little hop in to make up the space.
“So I threw a jab, he took it, hopped in and got a couple of shots off.
“Then we had a little reset moment.
“So I circled around again, threw a body jab which hit, and I knew he’d probably swallow that in and try to counter me straight away.
“That’s why I turned the right hand over as he was doing that little gallop in to make up the space.
“And I caught him on the way in. Caught him with that shot and got him out of there …”