DAVID ADELEYE has shared the ring with BOTH Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley – and insists there is only one winner.
The two meet on Saturday live on DAZN PPV – in what appears to be a classic clash of styles between boxer vs puncher.
Parker is the seasoned professional, who has mixed it with the best and reigned as world champion as far back as NINE years ago.
At that point, Wardley was just a 20-year-old picking up boxing for the first time before having four white collar bouts on the unlicensed circuit.
Now he is knocking on the door of a world title shot, with 18 knockouts in his 19 wins which includes a 2023 stoppage over Adeleye.
Londoner Adeleye has also sparred Parker in the past – making him an expert analyst heading into the bout.
He said on SunSport’s No Glove Lost episode: “I’ve been there with both of them, been in the ring with Wardley obviously when I fought him and I’ve been sparring Parker before.
“When it comes to being a well rounded athlete, Parker’s better. I just think Wardley’s got zap, Parker’s got power.
“Parker’s way more regimented and he knows what he’s doing. He’s on balance all the time, he throws the right shots, he knows when to do it.
“Wardley’s a bit more unconventional. He can throw a shot and you might not see it.
Parker vs Wardley – all the info
HEAVYWEIGHT boxing is back on the agenda!
Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley meet in what is expected to be one of the fights of the year.
It all takes place at the O2 Arena on Saturday, October 25, with the pair hoping to take a step closer to world title contention in 2026.
Parker is – bar Oleksandr Usyk – the most in-form heavyweight in boxing, having won his last six fights, including signature wins over Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder.
Former white collar star Wardley destroyed Frazer Clarke last October before displaying his devastating power in a come-from-behind win against Justis Huni in June.
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“I wouldn’t say he’s a big puncher, I’ve been in there with way bigger punchers and fought people with more power.
“But he’s got zap, he’s a sharp-shooter.”
Parker is on a huge run of six straight wins, beating the likes of Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole.
He is the WBO mandatory challenger and next in line for a shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed titles.
But with the Ukrainian out injured, Parker has bravely rolled the dice to keep himself busy in the ring.
Wardley is also the WBA’s interim champ and next contender – meaning the weekend’s loser risks their position at the front of the queue.
Adeleye said: “I think to set up a fight with Parker and Wardley was a very good, very good move from Frank Warren. It’s a good move for both of them.
“They both wanna be fighting at the top of the tree. How do we get them to fight at the top of the tree? Just get them to fight each other.
“That way it’s easy, only one of them can go through. Obviously Wardley had that fight with Justis Huni where he went with the storm, made it happen and so now he’s getting a bigger fight in Parker.
“If he beats Parker, he gets a bigger step up against Usyk, and then you’ve got Parker who keep proving himself, it’s like, alright they’re both in the same position right now.
“You two gotta fight each other and then the winner goes from there.”
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Having shared the ring with both, Adeleye predicted: “I say Parker late, I think he’s gonna tee up on him and get the stoppage.
“But I have to say a but – I think if Parker isn’t on the ball and he makes a few mistakes he could be in trouble. I’m saying Parker 9-12.”
