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Fabio Wardley secured a major upset to destroy Joseph Parker's aspirations of earning a double world heavyweight champion on Saturday and positioned himself in position for a shot at perfect champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Stunning Comeback Victory

The UK fighter is now the top competitor for the Ukrainian after he earned a impressive comeback victory by stopping the seasoned New Zealander in the penultimate round of an exciting and physical battle at London's O2 Arena.

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

Emotional Celebration

The Ipswich native raised the crowd to their feet and collapsed to the floor in jubilation as his corner team piled into the ring to mark the victory.

They were excellent scenes as the former white-collar boxer maintained his extraordinary rise in the professional ranks.

Debated Stoppage

There was an debate that the halt was premature, especially given Parker had controlled for large parts of the fight and injured Wardley multiple occasions with straight rights.

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

Wardley's Victory Comments

"I said all the way through this build-up that we chose Joseph Parker because I think I'm at the top and I proved I'm at the top," said Wardley.

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

Critical Moment

It was a straight uppercut from Wardley in the 10th round which swung the bout firmly back in favour of the outsider.

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

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

Promoter's Positive Outlook

Wardley's promoter Frank Warren informed DAZN: "Usyk declared 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 Extraordinary Journey Progresses

It was a elite group of the British heavyweight category in the arena with Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma, Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte among the observers.

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 emblem emblazoned on his kit.

Significant Career Progression

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

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

Fight Description

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

As shouts of 'Oh Fabio Wardley' rang around the arena, Parker secured control with a stiff of a jab that soon caused blood from the bridge of the Ipswich fighter's nose.

The conclusion to the first three minutes was emphatic from the favorite as Parker powered through with a powerful of a right hand.

Exciting Momentum Shift

Parker's control evaporated when a right hand from Wardley rocked him in the second.

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

The expertise of Parker, in his fortieth pro fight, looked like it was going to be crucial here. Wardley was always dangerous, but Parker was landing the better shots through the central 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 threat.

The fight looked to be losing steam in the eighth before it burst back into life and shifted clearly back in Wardley's favor in the 10th.

He guaranteed his remarkable story would get another chapter against Usyk when he attacked Parker in the 11th with a barrage of shots which forced Foster to step in.

It may have been premature but Wardley will contend that Parker was taking considerable punishment.

Usyk Showdown - What Next for Wardley?

Usyk requested a medical exception 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 set to face the victor of this bout.

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

Fast Ascent to the Top

With just 21 pro fights on the back of no amateur background having arrived from the white-collar scene, Wardley is still raw and his rise to this level has been significantly fast tracked.

But now he is in a position to face the finest heavyweight of this period which is a dramatic tale.

Parker's Future Options

Parker will now have to deliberately evaluate his next step, given his age and how long he has been participating at the top level.

He undertook a huge risk here and his chances of regaining a portion of the world heavyweight crown have been lessened.