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Fabio Wardley fears a telling off from his mum tonight - even if he knocks out Joseph Parker. Victory over the Kiwi in London will set up a shot at undisputed heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk. It would cap an incredible eight-year journey since Wardley turned professional after just four unlicensed fights. But his route to the top has not been without danger. Wardley was bashed up in a 12-round war with Frazer Clarke which left him able to eat only ice cream and noodles. And he lost almost every minute of every round against Justis Huni before a right hand from nowhere floored the Aussie. That would have been enough to send most fretting mums straight behind the sofa - but not Wardley's old dear. She raised the Ipswich heavyweight as a single parent when his dad moved to America. And Shonni-leigh will be throwing every punch with her son tonight before being ready with her post-fight verdict. "My mum has always been my biggest fan," said Wardley. "I realise now how much she grafted for me as a kid, how much she encouraged me to be myself, to do well and push on. "She surrounded me with love no matter what was going on in our lives. Whatever we had or didn't have, she gave me strong core values. " Boxing can be brutal but my mum's never been the one to hide behind her hands, not watch or not watch what's going on. She has always been loud and at the front of the crowd, on her feet, cheering and shouting, basically trying to get in the ring herself, if she could. "After the Huni fight she gave me her usual spiel of, 'Why did it take so long?' and 'Why did you hang around so long?' She was quite satisfied with the Frazer Clarke rematch win, and some other fights that have gone in the first few rounds. She got a bit accustomed to that, so when they've gone a bit further along, she wasn't best pleased!" Wardey, who himself is now a dad to a baby daughter, will rightly start as the underdog at The O2 arena. Parker has rebuilt his career since losing to Joe Joyce three years ago and knows this is his last chance to secure another world title shot. His experience dwarfs that of his rival and he has beaten a much higher calibre of opponent. But his recent wins over a shot-shy Deontay Wilder , an aging Zhilei Zhang and an overweight Martin Bakole are not rock solid. Parker should have the nous to neutralise Wardley's one-punch knockout power - but don't rule out another come-from-behind home win. Especially if Wardley's mum has anything to do with it.
