The New Zealander, currently the WBO interim champion, will face the Briton, who holds the WBA interim strap, in a major blockbuster on October 25 at London's The O2 Arena.

Usyk, who became undisputed champion in July for a second time after reclaiming the IBF strap from Daniel Dubois, has been ordered to face Parker as his mandatory challenger.

But with the Ukrainian claiming for a medical extension on negotiations and questions over his desire to take the fight, the latter has opted to wait no longer on a return to the ring.

Speaking at Tuesday's media event, Parker acknowledged that both him and Wardley have no desire to kick their heels, and thanked his opponent for accepting the invitation.

"I've fought a lot of fighters out there with big punches, and they haven't really been able to get me out of there," he said. "I want to give credit to Fabio for taking this fight.

"I could have sat and waited for Usyk. But we, as fighters, have shown that we will fight anyone, any time. I think this is going to be a great fight.

"He ticks all the boxes to have a big fight like this, but fighting myself is very different to fighting everybody else that he has fought.

"I've got a lot of experience, belief and determination. There are levels, and I believe with the experience I have, I'm excited to see what I can do in the ring."

Parker, who last fought against Martin Bakole in February, could yet be upgraded to full champion if the WBO elects to strip Usyk of his belt or force him to vacate it.

That would open the door for Wardley to challenge for a full title following his win in June over Justis Huni, and the star did not shy away from the size of the occasion.

"[It is a] huge moment in my career, [a] defining moment," he added. "I am committed to that setting of big fights only. I've not come here to play around.

"I've not made it this far in my career to just hang about and wait for things to be handed to me. I'm very much a go-getter. I made my way through the rankings.

"But if that's not going to go the way we planned, I'm not just going to sit in the wings and wait. I'm going to be [looking] for the next best thing.

"While Usyk is tied up, there is no other better competitor in the division right now than Joseph Parker. I've got experience to take me through into a top-level fight."

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