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Fabio Wardley secured a major upset to shatter Joseph Parker's hopes of securing a two-time world heavyweight champion on Saturday and positioned himself in position for a shot at perfect champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Remarkable Comeback Victory

The UK fighter is now the primary competitor for the Ukrainian after he secured a stunning comeback victory by stopping the experienced New Zealander in the penultimate round of an entertaining and bruising battle at London's O2 Arena.

Wardley, 30, claimed the WBO 'interim' title when he forced referee Howard Foster to end the bout as he swarmed former world champion Parker, who had been seriously injured in the 10th by a right uppercut.

Powerful Celebration

The Ipswich native brought the crowd to their feet and fell to the floor in triumph as his training team rushed into the ring to rejoice.

They were superb scenes as the ex white-collar boxer extended his extraordinary rise in the pro circuit.

Controversial Stoppage

There was an discussion that the halt was premature, especially given Parker had controlled for large parts of the fight and hurt Wardley numerous times with powerful rights.

But the 33-year-old New Zealander gave little argument when Foster stepped in and his trainer Andy Lee did not look to protest as his man experienced his fourth pro defeat.

Wardley's Victory Comments

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

"All praise to Joseph, he can't get enough admiration and he merits all the respect from the boxing fraternity. He undertook a chance when he didn't have to, and we realized he wasn't going anywhere quickly. We had to pick our spots and eventually we got them out of there."

Critical Moment

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

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

Parker endangered his standing as the top contender for Usyk's championship by accepting this fight, dropping to his fourth pro defeat.

Promoter's Assured Outlook

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

Wardley's Remarkable Journey Advances

It was a elite group 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 hues with the football club's badge emblazoned on his kit.

Notable Career Progression

He commented in the preparation 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 best heavyweight of this generation.

Fight Breakdown

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

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

The end to the first three minutes was emphatic from the favourite as Parker stormed through with a strong of a right hand.

Thrilling Momentum Shift

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

It would be a forerunner to what would follow later in the fight. It was a perfect shot and raised those ringside to their feet as the New Zealander looked unstable on his.

The experience of Parker, in his 40th professional fight, looked like it was going to be vital here. Wardley was always dangerous, but Parker was hitting the better shots through the intermediate rounds.

Last 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 seemed to be fizzling out in the eighth before it burst back into life and shifted clearly back in Wardley's favor in the 10th.

He ensured his remarkable story would get another chapter against Usyk when he swarmed Parker in the 11th with a flurry of shots which compelled Foster to step in.

It may have been quick but Wardley will claim that Parker was taking substantial punishment.

Usyk Showdown - What Next for Wardley?

Usyk applied for a medical dispensation to defer his required defence of the WBO title because of a back injury, but his representative Serge Lapin recently affirmed that the unbeaten champion was ready to face the victor of this bout.

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

Quick Ascent to the Top

With just twenty-one career fights on the back of no amateur background having come from the white-collar scene, Wardley is still unpolished and his rise to this standing has been considerably accelerated.

But now he is in a position to challenge the finest heavyweight of this period which is a Hollywood-like tale.

Parker's Future Options

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

He took a massive gamble here and his chances of regaining a portion of the world heavyweight crown have been lessened.