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Fabio Wardley achieved a huge upset to shatter Joseph Parker's dreams of securing a two-time world heavyweight champion on Saturday and put himself in position for a opportunity at unbeaten champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Impressive Comeback Victory

The English fighter is now the number one competitor for the Ukrainian after he claimed a impressive comeback victory by stopping the seasoned New Zealander in the eleventh round of an exciting and physical battle at London's O2 Arena.

Wardley, 30, won the WBO 'interim' title when he pressured referee Howard Foster to end the bout as he overwhelmed ex world champion Parker, who had been hurt badly in the 10th by a right uppercut.

Dramatic Celebration

The Ipswich native brought the crowd to their feet and fell to the floor in jubilation as his training team piled into the ring to celebrate.

They were superb scenes as the ex white-collar boxer maintained his outstanding rise in the boxing world.

Debated Stoppage

There was an argument that the stoppage was early, especially given Parker had commanded for extended periods of the fight and damaged Wardley repeatedly with powerful rights.

But the 33-year-old New Zealander gave little protest when Foster stepped in and his trainer Andy Lee did not seem to remonstrate as his man endured his fourth professional defeat.

Wardley's After-Match Comments

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

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

Decisive Round

It was a right uppercut from Wardley in the 10th round which swung the bout clearly back in benefit of the longshot.

This was Wardley's 20th pro win and his most significant. Usyk now possibly awaits early next year.

Parker endangered his position as the top contender for Usyk's title by taking this fight, falling to his fourth professional defeat.

Promoter's Confident Outlook

Wardley's promoter Frank Warren stated to DAZN: "Usyk stated he wants to do it, so that's what it will be. It's a 36-minute fight and it only takes one second from him."

Wardley's Extraordinary Journey Continues

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 colors with the football club's crest emblazoned on his kit.

Significant Career Progression

He remarked in the build-up how it was remarkable that when Parker was claiming the WBO heavyweight title in 2016, he was only participating in white-collar boxing.

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

Fight Breakdown

With Lee in his corner, Parker was on a red-hot 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 secured control with a stiff of a jab that soon brought blood from the bridge of the Ipswich fighter's nose.

The end to the first three minutes was decisive from the expected winner as Parker powered through with a strong of a right hand.

Exciting Momentum Shift

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

It would be a precursor to what would occur later in the fight. It was a perfect shot and got those ringside to their feet as the New Zealander looked shaky 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 connecting the better shots through the middle rounds.

Final 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 risk.

The fight appeared to be waning in the eighth before it exploded back into life and turned firmly back in Wardley's benefit in the 10th.

He made sure his remarkable story would get another chapter against Usyk when he overwhelmed Parker in the 11th with a volley of shots which compelled Foster to step in.

It may have been early but Wardley will argue that Parker was taking substantial punishment.

Usyk Showdown - What Next for Wardley?

Usyk applied for a medical exception to delay his mandatory defence of the WBO title because of a back injury, but his representative Serge Lapin recently affirmed that the unbeaten champion was set 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 arrived from the white-collar scene, Wardley is still inexperienced and his climb to this level has been significantly accelerated.

But now he is in a situation to challenge the finest heavyweight of this period which is a cinematic 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 top level.

He accepted a huge gamble here and his chances of winning back a piece of the world heavyweight crown have been lessened.