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 crucial anticipated heavyweight rematches of the yr, Fabio Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KOs) walked via Frazer Clarke (8-1-1, 6 KOs) in a single spherical.
Their first struggle in March, which led to a break up draw, was a struggle of attrition. This time round, it was a blowout.
Boxing in the principle assist to the undisputed mild heavyweight title conflict between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol at Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening, Wardley stamped his declare as one of the crucial thrilling fighters to observe 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 via 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 arms whereas Clarke tried to brawl his manner out of bother. It was a foul choice.
Wardley received 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, seemed up on the referee together with his eyes rolling again in his head. The struggle was correctly known as off.
“I all the time know that when I harm somebody I can eliminate them,” mentioned Wardley, who, in response to CompuBox, landed 64% of his energy pictures.
When Wardley and Clarke first met on the O2 Area in London seven months in the past, the query was whether or not Wardley may match it with Clarke, who gained 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 break up draw by scores of 115-112 (Clarke), 114-113 (Wardley) and 113-113.
This time round, Wardley left little doubt.
“I’ve received dynamite in every hand. I do know as soon as I harm somebody I can eliminate them,” Wardley mentioned.
“I would like belts, I would like titles. These look nice and stuff, however I would like those that say world champion. Whoever else is searching them, we’re going to have to fulfill right here.”
