Though Howard Foster’s decision to rescue Joseph Parker from Fabio Wardley triggered outrage on social media and beyond, the British Boxing Board of Control will not be investigating the referee’s performance.
The punishing heavyweight affair, which occurred on October 25, came to a halt in the 11th round with Parker on the ropes and the 30-year-old Wardley on the attack. The controversy came because it could be argued that Parker, 33, had weathered a particularly heavy storm, remained on his feet, and appeared clear-eyed. Furthermore, the New Zealander was ahead on two of three scorecards going into that penultimate round.
That it was so late in the contest made the stoppage more understandable, says BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith.
“If that had been the first or second round and it was the first time that Parker was hurt it’s a different matter and a different story,” Smith told BoxingScene. “But I thought the stoppage was bang on. It was a long and gruelling fight, Parker had been hurt several times, and was not really throwing back.”
Smith went on to explain that the Board had not received a single complaint regarding the stoppage from anyone who was ringside at London’s O2 Arena. It’s understood that Parker, and his coach Andy Lee, accepted the referee’s decision as fair.
Foster started his officiating career in 1997 and has refereed 1,541 contests.
