Joseph Parker will outweigh Fabio Wardley by almost 20 pounds when they clash on Saturday in their heavyweight 12-rounder. At Friday’s weigh-in at Spitalfields Market in London, ahead of tomorrow’s showdown which will take place seven miles east, at the O2 Arena, Parker weighed 262lbs 4oz - the second highest weight of his career - compared to 242lbs 7oz for Wardley.
"I'm heavy and I'm strong and I'm ready to go," said Parker. "I'm serious about my work, I want to punch holes in him tomorrow."
"This means everything, all the work is done," said Wardley. "Every step has been a step too far, they said. But I haven't been beat yet and it won't happen on Saturday. It's not about me learning anything, it's about everyone learning about me, that I belong at this level."
Parker, 36-3 (24 KOs), has in recent years fluctuated between 240 and 255lbs. However, in February, after preparing for a bout with the thunderous Daniel Dubois – that became an unexpected showdown with Martin Bakole when Dubois pulled out – Parker weighed 267lbs, the heaviest of his career.
Prior to that, for wins over Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder, he weighed 247.5 and 245.25lbs respectively. In both of those contests, Parker was sprightlier on his feet than he was against Bakole.
Parker’s lightest weight came back in 2013 when he hit the scales at a little over 219lbs before a two-round drubbing of Afa Tatupu.
Wardley, 19-0 (18 KOs), has been more consistent on the scales. He was 243 – his heaviest to date – prior to knocking out Justis Huni and weighed between 241 and 243 for his bouts with Frazer Clarke and David Adeleye, the bout that preceded the two-fight Clarke rivalry. Wardley’s lightest weight came in 2017 when he steamrolled Scott Saward in a round.
Other weights for televised fights:
12 rounds, vacant IBO cruiserweight title
Juergen Uldedaj, 199lbs 15oz
Rolly Lambert Fogoum, 199lbs 8oz
10 rounds, WBA continental gold light heavyweight title
Ezra Taylor, 173lbs 10oz
Steed Woodall, 174lbs 9oz
10 rounds, vacant WBO European lightweight title
Mitchell Smith, 134lbs 2oz
Arnie Dawson, 134lbs 14oz
10 rounds, IBF & WBO European junior lightweight titles
Danny Quartermaine, 129lbs 3oz
Royston Barney-Smith, 129lbs 9oz
