Former world heavyweight champion, Lupesoliai Joseph Parker, has been knocked out for the first time in his career by Joe Joyce in Manchester England. 

Despite the bravery from the Samoan boxer who had to endure a cut above his right eye from the early rounds of the fight, the undefeated WBO Interim heavyweight champion floored Parker in the 11th round. Parker made it back on his feet by the end of the count but the referee stopped the fight. 

The win for Joyce earned him the WBO interim title and a step up the heavyweight rankings, making him the mandatory challenger for the winner of the forthcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.

Parker’s future plans remain unknown at this stage. 

But Joyce paid tribute to his courageous opponent in his post-fight interview. 

“Parker is a great fighter,” he said. “I give him credit for a great fight, I had to dig deep to get him. I threw everything at him, the handbag and kitchen sink but he kept coming back. I’m glad I got the job done.”

Lupesoliai’s loss takes his record to 31-3 (21Kos) but can still hold his head high for what was a very brave effort against a relentless and much tougher opponent. 

Parker won the title in 2016 with a points victory over Andy Ruiz in Auckland. He successfully defended against Razvan Cojanu and Hughie Fury before suffering defeat in a unification battle with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff in March 2018. 

Prior to Sunday, the 30-year-old held a a six-fight winning streak, following a points loss to Dillian Whyte in July 2018, with the run including successive victories over Dereck Chisora, both in Manchester.

Joyce, 15-0 (14 KOs), is the holder of the WBO International, WBC Silver, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, having recently relinquished the British. 

The 36-year-old was last in action at the OVO Arena, Wembley in July, emphatically defeating Christian Hammer via a fourth-round stoppage. A wrist injury has kept the Putney man out of action for the first part of this year.