BOXING fans fumed that Joseph Parker was on the end of an “absolutely disgraceful” stoppage – but Fabio Wardley reckons it could have been stopped EARLIER.
Parker was ahead on two of the judges’ scorecards and level with the other when he was stopped in round 11 at the O2 Arena.
A right hand sent the former heavyweight world champion into the ropes before a barrage of shots were thrown by Wardley.
Replays revealed little actually landed but without Parker offering anything back – referee Howard Foster made the controversial call to step in.
Foster – who infamously stopped George Groves’ 2013 fight against Carl Froch – received major backlash from fans online.
One said: “Absolutely disgraceful stoppage. Parker miles ahead on cards and not in trouble. Iron chin. Blatant robbery.
“Remind me who was the home fighter? Undermines the credibility of the sport. Disgusting.”
Another fumed: “Parker has just been robbed worse than the Louvre. Such a disappointing early stoppage from the Ref.”
A third raged: “Get that rematch right away for Parker. Early stoppage.”
Boxing promoter Lou DiBella posted: “That f**ing stoppage was HORRENDOUS.
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“This was stopped against an A level fighter without any sense of danger or necessity. JUST. F***ING. AWFUL.”
Despite fan outcry, Wardley argued Foster could have jumped in even earlier.
He said: “I thought he should have stopped it maybe five or six punches ago. If not that time then the other time.
“But look, boxing will be boxing, I’m not here to cry about what could have been, what was.
“I only keep going and if the bell hasn’t gone, the ref hasn’t waved it off then I’m still throwing punches.”
Wardley, 30, is now the WBO interim champion and mandatory challenger for undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk, 38.
Parker, 33, meanwhile has called for a rematch while sporting a disfigured left eye in the aftermath of his loss.
He said: “Congratulations to Fabio Wardley, he’s a warrior.
“At the end of the fight I thought I was fine but I’m not the ref, I’m not the one controlling the fight.
“He’s a tough man. He was confident and had self-belief. All I can say is congratulations and good luck for what’s next. Hopefully we can have a rematch.”
