Joseph Parker faces a long climb back to the top

Joseph Parker faces a long climb back to the top as his dreams of another world title shot were shattered in an 11th round stoppage by English power puncher Fabio Wardley early Sunday morning.

After scaling back up the heavyweight mountain and with the summit in sight, Parker has slipped against a British knockout machine.

Parker was finished by TKO in round 11 after the two warriors put on an absolute war, each finding success and near finishes across 11 brutal rounds.

With Parker ahead on the scorecards, Wardley needed a miracle and found it in the form of a right hook that sent Parker rocking.

Pressed against the ropes, Wardley relentlessly barraged Parker and, while no follow-ups landed flush, enough was down and, without Parker answering back, the fight was over.

“I believed I’m at the top, I proved I’m at the top,” Wardley said in his post-fight interview, after inevitably calling out division king Oleksandr Usyk.

In victory, he becomes the new WBO interim heavyweight champion, lining himself up for an inevitable clash with undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk.

Speaking to talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver in the immediate aftermath of his stunning victory, Wardley said: “That was something special.

“I said to everyone in the build-up that there was going to be drama and that it was going to be exciting.

“And I delivered on that part. I might not have all the pretty boxing skills, but I have everything else that it takes to be a champion, and I proved that tonight.

“All credit to Joseph Parker and his team for having the balls to take this fight, but this is Fabio Wardley’s night.

“There is a lot that comes into winning fights; it is not all about having a pretty jab.

“You have got to have guts, will and determination, and I have that.

“There is nothing I want more now [than Usyk]. All the belts, all the marbles, let’s go!”