FABIO WARDLEY was down on the judges scorecards before pulling out another come from behind victory to beat Joseph Parker.
Wardley – who knocked out Aussie Justis Huni in round 10 in June after losing the majority of the bout – halted New Zealander Parker in the 11th.
A huge right hand had the ex-WBO heavyweight champion hurt before Wardley followed up with a barrage of desperate shots with Parker hurt on the ropes.
Referee Howard Foster controversially stepped in to award Wardley the stoppage victory with just minutes left in the bout.
And DAZN commentator Adam Smith revealed Parker was ahead by six rounds on one scorecard, two on another and drawing with the other.
It means Parker was on route to victory with the judges before Foster stopped the fight.
Wardley – scoring his 19th KO in 20 wins – is now the WBO interim champ and mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s four undisputed belts.
The exhausted Brit said: “I said all the way through this build-up that we picked Joseph Parker because I believe I’m at the top, and I proved I’m at the top.
“For what I lack in experience, I make up for in chin, heart and determination.
“I told everyone I wasn’t losing today and that belt will be mine. I did everything I said I would do.”
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Wardley just started boxing in 2016 aged 20 when Parker won the world title – having four white collar bouts on the unlicensed scene before turning pro.
He thanked his manager Dillian Whyte – now set to fight Derek Chisora for a third time – for masterminding his incredible rise to the top of the sport.
Wardley, 30, said: “All credit to Joseph Parker. He can’t get enough respect from him, and he deserves all the respect from the boxing community.
“He took a chance when he didn’t have to, and we knew he wasn’t going anywhere quickly. We had to pick our spots and eventually we got them out of there.
“Aside from that, It’s down to Dillian White. I would still be lost in small halls, fighting at York Hall every few months, not hearing of me.
“He picked me out of the rough and changed my life. He deserves everything from me.”
Parker was left with a disfigured left eye in the aftermath of the loss but called for a rematch after the brutal but thrilling O2 fight.
The 33-year-old said: “He’s a tough man. He showed he’s a warrior. All I can say is congratulations. Hopefully, we can have a rematch.”
