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Fabio Wardley pulled off a massive upset to shatter Joseph Parker's dreams of earning a two-time world heavyweight champion on Saturday and placed himself in line for a chance at undefeated champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Remarkable Comeback Victory

The English fighter is now the primary challenger for the Ukrainian after he secured a stunning comeback victory by ending the experienced New Zealander in the 11th round of an thrilling and tough battle at London's O2 Arena.

Wardley, 30, won the WBO 'interim' title when he forced referee Howard Foster to halt the bout as he overwhelmed ex world champion Parker, who had been significantly damaged in the 10th by a straight uppercut.

Emotional Celebration

The Ipswich native raised the crowd to their feet and dropped to the floor in celebration as his training team flooded into the ring to mark the victory.

They were superb scenes as the ex white-collar boxer continued his outstanding rise in the professional ranks.

Questioned Stoppage

There was an discussion that the intervention was early, especially given Parker had dominated for large parts of the fight and injured Wardley multiple occasions with powerful rights.

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

Wardley's Victory Comments

"I stated all the way through this build-up that we selected Joseph Parker because I believe I'm at the top and I demonstrated I'm at the top," said Wardley.

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

Decisive Round

It was a right uppercut from Wardley in the 10th round which shifted the bout decisively back in favour of the underdog.

This was Wardley's twentieth professional win and his most important. Usyk now likely awaits early next year.

Parker gambled his standing as the top contender for Usyk's championship by accepting this fight, declining to his fourth pro defeat.

Promoter's Positive Outlook

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

Wardley's Remarkable Journey Progresses

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 marched to the ring adorned in Ipswich Town colours with the football club's emblem featured on his kit.

Notable Career Progression

He remarked in the lead-up how it was extraordinary that when Parker was securing the WBO heavyweight title in 2016, he was only competing in white-collar boxing.

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

Fight Description

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

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

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

Thrilling Momentum Shift

Parker's control vanished when a right hand from Wardley stunned him in the second.

It would be a precursor to what would happen later in the fight. It was a excellent shot and brought those ringside to their feet as the New Zealander looked shaky on his.

The experience of Parker, in his fortieth pro fight, looked like it was going to be critical here. Wardley was always dangerous, but Parker was landing the better shots through the middle rounds.

Closing Rounds and Victory

The Kiwi's left uppercuts to the body and right hands over the top were a particular highlight, but Wardley's own backhand remained a danger.

The fight seemed to be losing steam in the eighth before it exploded back into life and swung clearly back in Wardley's benefit in the 10th.

He ensured his remarkable story would get another chapter against Usyk when he attacked Parker in the 11th with a volley of shots which compelled Foster to intervene.

It may have been quick but Wardley will argue that Parker was taking considerable punishment.

Usyk Showdown - What Next for Wardley?

Usyk applied for a medical exemption to defer his mandatory defence of the WBO title because of a back injury, but his advisor Serge Lapin recently affirmed that the undefeated champion was ready to face the victor of this bout.

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

Rapid Ascent to the Top

With just twenty-one career fights on the back of without amateur background having emerged from the white-collar scene, Wardley is still raw and his rise to this position has been considerably sped up.

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

Parker's Future Options

Parker will now have to deliberately consider his next step, given his age and how long he has been fighting at the elite level.

He accepted a significant risk here and his chances of reclaiming a piece of the world heavyweight crown have been diminished.