LONDON, England — Since breezing past an overweight Martin Bakole some seven months ago, Joseph Parker has been adamant he wants to be kept busy and active in an ever-changing heavyweight landscape.

The WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk will meet another of the glamour division's interim world champions in unbeaten beltholder Fabio Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) to headline The O2 Arena in six weeks' time on DAZN PPV.

Queensberry chief Frank Warren, who promotes both, declared this was another case of all or nothing between two fighting men who didn't need to meet one another. They could've waited and instead retained their elevated standing, awaiting positive news.

Yet stagnation is not in their nature. Steady activity has brought both to this critical juncture in their careers. Parker's rebuild after an 11th-round stoppage defeat by Joe Joyce - three years this month - exemplifies why heavyweights should stay busy.

The 33-year-old's manager, David Higgins, was perhaps piling on the hyperbole when asking rhetorically whether his recent three-fight run of Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole could be topped by any heavyweight in history.

Wardley and his manager Michael Ofo couldn't help smile at one another in response to the comment, almost as if they knew something we didn't. When asked why he accepted this risky opportunity, one made on relatively short-notice, Parker took it all in stride.

"Walking towards the fire ... I love the fire, I fought a lot of fighters out there, big punchers, who haven't been able to get me out of there. I want to give credit to Fabio for taking this fight, could've sat and waited for Usyk when he's ready or not injured but as fighters, we're showing we fight anyone, anytime.

"It's going to be a great fight, he says he's ticked off all the boxes and got the rounds in that he needs to have a big fight like this but fighting a person like myself is very different to anyone else he's fought.

"I bring a lot of experience, belief, determination and I will win come October 25. There are levels, I believe with the experience I have, what I've been working on with George [Lockhart, his nutritionist] in New Zealand, I've got a good base and am excited to see what I'm gonna bring.

"It's a great story, starting off as a white collar fighter, he's progressed in his professional career and we've seen him improve every time he's stepped into the ring - that's the old story. He has a new story now, but that story is different and October 25, it stops there. Parker win, I'm going to go home and celebrate, eat some nice junk food."