A Heavyweight Humdinger

The magnificent heavyweight collision between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley is now looming very large.

This showdown, I truly believe, is as good as it gets in the division outside of current undisputed ruler Oleksandr Usyk defending his belts. The prize for the winner is sharing a ring with the great Ukrainian or, if he chooses to fight someone else, the victor will become WBO champion.

So the prize cannot really get much bigger.

The fight is something of a unique encounter because it is between two Interim world title holders. Joseph holds the WBO title and Fabio the WBA. In terms of the rotation system of the sanctioning bodies putting forward their nominated mandatory challengers to an undisputed champion, the WBO is next in line.

So Joseph has a lot to lose but, being the type of man he is, he wants to fight and be in proper fights. For Fabio, this is a chance for him to jump the queue and make himself next for Usyk.

This is a fight that has got a bit of everything, apart from trash talking. Both men are charming and respectful characters and any spite will be saved for the ring. The contrast in styles will be fascinating to watch.

Joseph is a seasoned operator and former world champion who seems to be getting better with age, while Fabio can be raw and always explosive. Every man who has stepped into the ring with Fabio has become familiar with the canvas.

Power is a quality that got Fabio out of a spot of bother last time out against Justis Huni on his big night at Ipswich Town, but he knows it is something a fighter cannot rely on at all times. There is much more to Fabio than just a big right hander and the improvements he has made over recent times have been immeasurable.

One thing is for sure, you will never see Fabio in a dull fight.

As for Joe, he is on a heavyweight roll and he has capitalised on the opportunities presented by Riyadh Season. He featured on the original in a routine runout, but then went on to put his name back up in lights by defeating Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole.

He is more than deserving of another crack at the world title and his time will soon come if he keeps on winning.

I am delighted to have an IBO world title fight on the card at cruiserweight, where the Albanian favourite Juergen Uldedaj will seek to become his nation’s first ever world champion when he takes on Rolly Lambert for the vacant belt.

Trained now by our good friend Don Charles, Juergen is becoming a formidable force at the weight and, if he can claim the belt, there are many big fights that can be made for him moving forward that will delight his army of fans.

There are two international titles on the line for our elite young prospect Royston Barney-Smith to target when he takes on the undefeated Danny Quartermaine in his toughest test to date.

They are not vacant titles, Danny is holder of the IBF and WBO European belts and Royston is being stepped up at the still tender age of 21. I am a big believer in Royston and the obvious talent he possesses, so now we have to see him tested.

Unfortunately we lost the British and Commonwealth title fight between the feuding Lewis Edmondson and Ezra Taylor due to an injury to the champion, but Ezra remains on the card in a solid test against Steed Woodall.

We’ve got such a rich bounty when it comes to light heavyweights at the moment, so every chance to shine must be seized and Ezra knows he has got a big part to play if he continues to impress.

In a fight I probably never expected to be putting on, our former young star Mitchell Smith is back in a Queensberry ring as a more mature vintage some 13 years after making his debut with us.

Mitchell was a fighter of huge promise and potential, which unfortunately he didn’t live up to because he didn’t get things right outside of the ring, which was a big disappointment because he was someone we really got behind and liked very much.

However, the mature Mitch is having another bash and he has got himself back in great shape as he bids to recapture former glories. He will fight for the WBO European lightweight title against a young and highly dedicated talent in Arnie Dawson.

It is a fight that you cannot help but be intrigued by and it is one I am looking forward to.

In the earlier bouts a clutch of our young future stars will be looking to impress and I will single out Zayn Ahmed by wishing him every success on his professional debut. He is definitely one to watch.