In this week’s mailbag, we tackle your thoughts on Fabio Wardley’s win over Joseph Parker and what it means for both men, including a potential fight between Wardley and heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk.

We also discuss the news of a potential rematch, more than 10 years later, between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, as well as how deserving Janibek Alimkhanuly is or isn’t of acclaim, and the disappointment that is Floyd Schofield suffering an injury and canceling his next outing.

Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.

MORE FIGHTERS SHOULD BE LIKE JOSEPH PARKER

If there were more fighters like Joseph Parker willing to take these obviously really dangerous fights, then we’d be in a much better place. Can you ever imagine Anthony Joshua taking such a dangerous contest while waiting for a guaranteed title shot? Never. 

Parker fought a great fight but couldn’t really budge Fabio Wardley, who is proving to be a solid unit with lights-out power. It will take a top form Oleksandr Usyk to dismantle this guy, and the way Wardley hits to the body will bring those odds down. Parker took the risk and now has to keep proving himself, which he is fully capable of. If Uysk doesn’t take the Wardley fight for any reason, then bring on the rematch with Parker. Great fight! 

-thack

Lance Pugmire’s response: Your appreciation is deserved. Joseph Parker is as principled as any fighter I’ve met. 

A few years ago, before his unification bout with Anthony Joshua, I recall Parker carrying out the daily chores, including sweeping up the kitchen floor at his trainer’s home outside Las Vegas. Humble, gracious and devoted, Parker rebuilt himself from the Joshua defeat to upend the likes of Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder to gain that title shot at Usyk, which included Parker’s classy, polite and humorous social media pursuit of the undisputed heavyweight champion. 

The fact that Parker opted to stay busy (and better prepare for Usyk) as the champion required injury time off was no surprise, and the decision to face the hard-hitting Wardley was a reminder of just how sincere his commitment is to the noble sport. 

Parker’s response amid the outcry of referee Howard Foster’s 11th-round stoppage with Parker ahead on the scorecards emphasized what a sportsman is all about. Boxing is fortunate to have Joseph Parker in its circle, and whether he regains the opportunity to exist again as a belt-wearer or not, the sport should hail him as Example 1A of how a champion should exist. 

IS JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY OVERRATED?

Erislandy Lara vs. Janibek Alimkhanuly is definitely gonna be a good fight. I want Lara to win, but he is 42 years old, so that’s a hard ask. I just want someone to enlighten me on why Janibek is so highly rated. Where are all these great fights he’s been in with world-class fighters? 

-DClefthook

Lucas Ketelle’s response: The middleweight division has been waiting for the next guy. Alimkhanuly has filled a void by winning a title, unifying titles, and seeking unification fights. With Alimkhanuly, it is hard not to remember his fight with Denzel Bentley, a bout in which he looked ordinary. It also doesn't help that he is a middleweight from Kazakhstan, following in the footsteps of Gennadiy Golovkin, but you can’t overlook that he has the IBF and WBO titles. 

Now he is fighting Lara for a chance to become a three-belt titleholder. To answer your question: Alimkhanuly is fighting the guys who hold titles or are his mandatories, which puts him in the position he is at, but it also shows how when a division lacks intriguing top matchups, it can dwindle enthusiasm around a fighter. 

MANNY PACQUIAO IS FAVORED IN REMATCH WITH FLOYD MAYWEATHER

Floyd Mayweather hasn’t fought a pro fight for almost a decade. Manny Pacquiao actually went a full 12 rounds with Mario Barrios, who many thought lost to Pacquiao in July. Yeah, Barrios isn’t the GOAT, but he’s still a modern-day champ. If Floyd actually fought Manny today, it’s a dangerous fight for Mayweather, and Manny would have the advantage. 

-legacygt777

Lance Pugmire’s response: Amid the news that Manny Pacquiao, 46, and Floyd Mayweather, 48, are discussing a rematch of the most lucrative prizefight in history, Pacquiao told BoxingScene he wants “a real fight,” not an exhibition with shortened rounds and/or heavier gloves. 

Yes, Pacquiao’s recent performance versus Mario Barrios indicates he would make the rematch far more entertaining than their first bout – when he was pained by a shoulder that required post-fight surgery – but it should also be reminded that Mayweather treats his body like a temple and is more averse to losing than any fighter this century. 

The expectation would be that if he signs off to make it a non-exhibition, Mayweather will put himself through the rigors to ensure he’s as fit as a 48-year-old can make himself. Pacquiao’s years of enduring that defeat would additionally provide the record eight-division champion fierce motivation to produce a far improved showing than what transpired in 2015. 

Even though that event turned many away from the sport, the fact that Netflix is interested proves the rematch retains major drawing power, and the curiosity long attached to Mayweather’s bouts – will he finally lose? – remains alive and well and would likely provoke strong financial support once more.

FLOYD SCHOFIELD’S INJURY BRINGS HIS MOMENTUM TO A HALT

This isn’t good for Floyd Schofield (“Floyd Schofield withdraws from Joseph Diaz Jnr fight, citing sprained wrist”). He needed to get back in the ring ASAP to ride the momentum of blasting out Tevin Farmer. Being back on the shelf for a spell, he’s going to lose all that steam. Bummer for him and his handlers. If a fighter wants to stay relevant, they must remain active. 

-t_dirtydizzawg

Jake Donovan’s response: Perhaps worse than the injury and setback itself is wondering what’s next for Floyd Schofield whenever he’s healed and able to land a fight date. 

Nobody asked for a fight with this version of JoJo Diaz – it was barely attractive when first considered by Golden Boy Promotions more than two years ago. Rescheduling it seems pointless, but it’s not like Schofield is overflowing with relevant options. Gunning for the top would mean waiting out two title fights either set (Abdullah Mason-Sam Noakes) or awaiting a firm date (Raymond Muratalla-Andy Cruz – and he’s already had failed talks with Muratalla) and whatever is going on in the Teofimo Lopez-Shakur Stevenson talks. 

A win-or-reset clash with William Zepeda is a Golden Boy signature type of fight, if that’s even on the table. But would Floyd Schofield Snr allow his son to take it, especially after a one-fight 2025 campaign and coming off an injury? 

Far too many questions surrounding Schofield considering the clear(er) path enjoyed by nearly all of his divisional peers.

ALL OF WARDLEY’S POSITIVES STILL CAN’T BEAT USYK

Fabio Wardley is Ipswich’s answer to Deontay Wilder, maybe even to Earnie Shavers, maybe even to Matthew Saad Mohammad. He has a granite chin, remarkable stamina and a punch that can turn around the worst predicament. He can’t beat Oleksandr Usyk in any way, shape or form. Usyk won’t get dragged into a war. Too smart, too experienced, too everything. 

-1Eriugenus

David Greisman’s response: Fabio Wardley is simultaneously one of the two men most deserving of a shot at Oleksandr Usyk – Agit Kabayel also has a good case – while also, on paper, not appearing to have what it takes to beat Usyk unless he can land a shot.

Anthony Joshua couldn’t knock Usyk out in the 24 rounds they shared in the ring. Tyson Fury seemed in command against Usyk at one point but still lost both of their bouts. Some believe that Daniel Dubois was robbed of a body shot knockout in their first meeting (I’m not among them), but Usyk dispelled any doubts by finishing Dubois within the distance again in their rematch.

Wardley was getting outboxed by Justis Huni before landing the KO blow. The school of thought was that Joseph Parker is better than Huni and wouldn’t make the same mistake. Parker was indeed ahead on the scorecards but had to dig deep in some tough moments, and he found himself in significant trouble in the 10th round and again just before the controversial 11th-round stoppage.

The school of thought, again, is that Usyk is better than Parker. And yet…

And yet Usyk is turning 39 years old at the start of 2026. He is still performing at a high enough level to be the best heavyweight in the world and one of the best boxers in the entire sport. But at some point, he too will begin to experience the inevitable decline.

Usyk should be the clear favorite. But all of us watching him take on Fabio Wardley will be on the edges of our seats, waiting to see if Wardley can land cleanly, and what happens with Usyk if and when he does.

TEAM PARKER GOT IT WRONG

There’s a risk involved in staying active in a mandatory position instead of playing safe and waiting for your shot. But Parker turned a calculated risk into a reckless gamble by coming in 20lbs heavier than he was against Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang and trying to beat a vicious, power-punching brawler at his own game. At 240-some lbs, Joe could have done the same thing to Wardley that he did to Wilder, the same thing that Justis Huni was doing to Fabio until his dodgy chin let him down – frustrate the raw puncher and pick him apart with skill, movement and experience. At 262lbs, the footwork and movement Parker used so well against Wilder wasn’t there, and lugging that extra weight around gassed him out as the rounds went by. Kudos to Joe for giving us such a fantastic, exciting fight and for accepting the controversial stoppage like an absolute gentleman. But he and his team need to ask themselves some serious questions about tactics and game plans going forward. 

-kafkod

Tris Dixon’s response: Of course there is a risk. That, really, was the selling point of the fight, All or Nothing. But I do agree with you tactically. I don’t think Parker’s team are the types to take things for granted and so I don’t think they took their foot off the gas or expected Parker to bomb out Wardley. But as you point out, the bare facts don’t lie. Do they say something about Parker’s conditioning or strategy or both? Unless there is something that we do not know about, and there might be, it does look naive to load the dice that way. I suppose you could look at it that Parker ate a lot of big shots and the weight allowed him to be more sturdy – not that that is a problem with him – but you could contend that a lighter Parker who moved more would not have needed to do so.  

GO AWAY FLOYD AND MANNY

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao should go away already! Both of them already have money, fame and resumes. Only people who don’t follow boxing would like this because they don’t know or care about active boxers. I hope they both get injured and this is canceled several times until they let it go. 

 -drablj

Tris Dixon’s response: I was speaking to someone about this yesterday and while I agree with your assertions, I’ll say this: For me, the fight is more competitive now than it was in 2015. Back then, Pacquiao was mid-slide, he’d lost, he’d been bombed out by Juan Manuel Marquez and had not stopped anyone in years. Mayweather has not fought in about a decade and Pacquiao is coming off a disputed draw with Barrios. I thought Mayweather would win at a canter first time around (not if they fought in 2010!), but if they are matched next year, and especially if Pacquiao manages to beat Rolly Romero in between, I would make the Filipino the favorite. You’d have to, right?

Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.