The build-up to the first fight between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke focused on the differences between the fighters.
In one corner stood Wardley, the confident, abrasive natural who dragged himself out of the world of white collar fighting and defied the odds to claim the British heavyweight title.
Opposite him stood Clarke, the purist who turned professional with a stack of expectations after a long, successful amateur career and an Olympic appearance.
In March, Wardley, 17-0-1 (16 KOs), and Clarke, 8-0-1 (6 KOs), discovered that they actually have lots in common as they battled to a brutal draw. On October 12, they meet in Saudi Arabia in an eagerly awaited rematch.
“In the build up to a fight there’s some needle, some back and forth and some things said,” Wardley told DAZN.
“All of that really goes out of the window once you share 12 hellish rounds with someone. There’s a good level of respect there for him.”
For all the pre-fight talk about pedigree and boxing ability, the first encounter quickly became a gruelling test of things that can’t be taught.
As the rounds passed, Wardley and Clarke dug themselves deeper and deeper into the trenches with neither man willing to take even a single step in retreat. Clarke picked himself up off the floor to hurt Wardley and both had their moments before the final bell called a temporary truce to hostilities.
Both will have learned plenty about each other and will have identified areas and moments they can exploit in the rematch.
Given his relative lack of experience, Wardley believes that he has the greater scope for improvement. He also thinks that Clarke’s more rigid education will prevent him from doing so.
“I’m the younger, the fresher fighter,” he said. “There’s more attributes to my game that I can advance and improve on to bring into the next fight. I think that he’s coming from that very strong, well schooled ABA, GB squad background. He’s boxed that same way, similar style for a good ten, 15 or however many years of how they drill you to box. ‘Do it this way, box that way. Do it like this.’ I think at his age of 42 or however old he is. 33, whatever. I just think [he will find it harder to change].”
Fights as meaningful and exciting as Wardley Vs. Clarke I come along rarely. When they do, the calls for a rematch are loud and immediate.
Generally, it is rare that the savagery of the first fight is repeated as at least one of the fighters decides that discretion is the better part of valour and tempers their approach slightly.
With so much riding on the outcome on October 12, it would be of no surprise if either man adopted a more cautious approach. Wardley, however, insists that it won’t be him.
“I had the option to rematch and fight Frazer and I did have other options. I’ve got a multitude of belts. There’s some unsettled business here. I’m not happy with the draw,” Wardley said.
“Very similar to how it played out first time around. A war. War-dley for a reason. Get stuck in. Throw bombs. Let him know I’m there. Hurt him again, get him going and just be a bit more clinical when I’ve got him on the go.”
John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79
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