FRAZER CLARKE POSES AT WEIGH-IN AHEAD OF MARCH 31 BRITISH TITLE CHALLENGE VERSUS FABIO WARDLEY AT THE O2 IN LONDON. PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE LUSTIG/BOXXER
In one of the vital anticipated heavyweight rematches of the 12 months, Fabio Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KOs) walked by means of Frazer Clarke (8-1-1, 6 KOs) in a single spherical.
Their first struggle in March, which led to a cut up draw, was a struggle of attrition. This time round, it was a blowout.
Boxing in the principle help to the undisputed mild heavyweight title conflict between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol at Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening, Wardley stamped his declare as one of the vital thrilling fighters to look at within the open weight class.
The 29-year-old Wardley confirmed all of the bravado of youth, leaping on Clarke on the first signal of weak spot. That got here halfway by means of the primary spherical when he discovered a gap for a wonderfully timed overhand proper, sending Clarke reeling into the impartial nook. In a intelligent transfer, Wardley dug into the physique with each fingers whereas Clarke tried to brawl his method out of bother. It was a foul choice.
Wardley bought the higher of the exchanges, spinning Clarke into the ropes. When Clarke untangled himself, he was met with a tough left hook adopted by a clubbing proper hand that buckled the knees of the 33-year-old and crumpled him to the canvas.
Clarke, on one knee together with his arm draped over the ropes, appeared up on the referee together with his eyes rolling again in his head. The struggle was properly known as off.
“I all the time know that when I harm somebody I can eliminate them,” stated Wardley, who, in accordance with CompuBox, landed 64% of his energy pictures.
When Wardley and Clarke first met on the O2 Enviornment in London seven months in the past, the query was whether or not Wardley may match it with Clarke, who received bronze on the tokyo Olympics.
The 12-round struggle was a belter. In a battle of wills that confirmed loads of shifts in momentum, Clarke was down within the fifth spherical and deducted one level within the seventh for repeated low blows. Nonetheless, Clarke weathered the storm to outlive till the ultimate bell, drawing on his novice pedigree to eke out a cut up draw by scores of 115-112 (Clarke), 114-113 (Wardley) and 113-113.
This time round, Wardley left little doubt.
“I’ve bought dynamite in every hand. I do know as soon as I harm somebody I can eliminate them,” Wardley stated.
“I need belts, I need titles. These look nice and stuff, however I need those that say world champion. Whoever else is searching them, we’re going to have to satisfy right here.”
