From bad mouthing during press conferences and interviews to tense stare-downs before doing battle, nothing quite captures the imagination of the fight fan like two adrenaline-filled athletic specimens going at it.

On Saturday night, a marquee heavyweight matchup takes place at the O2 Arena in London when former world champion Joseph Parker takes on Fabio Wardley, exclusively live on DAZN PPV.

There is a major reward at stake for the winner with a world title shot against undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, and you would think this incentive would spark hostilities between Parker and Wardley.

Instead, there is a respect between the two with a nice hint of tension whenever they share the same space.

Wardley finds himself in a unique position. Just 20 fights into his professional career, which were preceded by time on the White Collar circuit, the Ipswich man is facing an opponent who has been a presence before he started his boxing journey.

“When Parker won his world title, or when he was a world champion, I hadn't even started professional boxing yet, I was still doing the White Collar circuit,” Wardley told DAZN News during a roundtable with other media outlets.

“It's a funny one, to watch that, watch him go, I remember sitting in the pub watching the AJ fight, which he lost, and however many years later, we're now fighting.”

Since the curtain came down on Usyk’s second win over Tyson Fury in December, the calls for Parker to face the Ukrainian have gotten louder and louder, but the fight has never become a reality.

This stumbling block by some could easily be used as a stick to beat Parker with, but Wardley instead has some degree of sympathy for his next opponent.

“From his perspective, and anybody in his shoes, it would be harsh luck, isn't it?" Wardley said.

“He's knocked over every task in front of him, he's kept grafting into that top row of the division, and at the end of his opportunities, he didn't get the shot, then he has to fight me to get another shot at it and go fight Usyk.

“Credit to him, he's not crying about it, he's not making a big deal, he's got his head down and just wants to keep fighting.”

Parker could have easily engaged in verbal sparring himself, most notably targeting Wardley’s lack of amateur experience and coming from the world of White Collar.

However, Parker has always been respectful of his opponents, rarely getting drawn into verbal exchanges, and praised Wardley’s rise through the ranks during a media call with DAZN News.

“For me, it’s a great story, with the White Collar background, not going through the same route as other fighters, being an amateur and traveling around the world during that experience. What he’s done is quite amazing,” Parker said.

“But I don’t think we should be touching on it anymore. He’s actually done really well in the professional game, and now look where he’s at. He’s in this position because he works hard and he backs himself.”

For two heavyweights whose respective careers possibly hinge on Saturday night’s main event, there is an unexpected sense of calm before the storm. Media appearances following the announcement of their matchup were littered with praise for how Parker and Wardley conducted themselves.

No bad mouthing, genuine respect, it is a contest which has seen fight fans wish both men the best in what will be an intriguing tussle at the O2 Arena in London.

Fight week may create some flashpoints, and that should not be a surprise. Taking part in various media activities will be the last thing Parker and Wardley will want to do before trading leather.

Often, boxing must rely on theatrics to peak interest, and while this rivalry lacks the former, there is an underlying tension with both men aware of the ability and danger the other possesses.

Sometimes this is all that’s needed for a marquee fight to capture the imagination, and in the age of social media, where those competing are often tasked with marketing themselves through viral moments, Parker vs. Wardley is a unique case where it is a good old-fashioned rivalry where boxing ability does all the talking.

Watch Parker vs. Wardley live on DAZN

Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley fight on Saturday, October 25, to become the WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk. Watch the fight and undercard live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.

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