Frankie Scarboro explains bad blood with ‘privileged’ Wayne Lawrence

Junior lightweights Frankie “The Franchise” Scarboro and Wayne Lawrence will put their undefeated records on the line in an eight-round bout this Saturday at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Maryland. 

The fight, promoted by Lamont Roach Snr’s NoXcuses Promotions, will air on the ProBox TV app.

Scarboro, 28, from Cheverly, Maryland, has a deep backstory with the 23-year-old Lawrence, who hails from Toledo, Ohio. The two fighters, different in so many ways, have exchanged heated words leading up to the match.

Scarboro described Lawrence as “a guy who was privileged,” accusing him of using his early fame—highlighted by appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and ESPN First Take—as a stepping stone without the hard work that comes with boxing. “I forgot he even existed,” Scarboro said. “And then he DM’d me, saying, ‘Let’s fight.’”

Scarboro felt the tone of Lawrence’s words was condescending, leaving him “on read,” a significant insult among younger people that refers to messages being read but essentially ignored. Scarboro recalled a particularly cutting remark from Lawrence, who claimed he was “never going to be anything” and was “running out of time.”

“So I definitely took that personal, and this fight is big to me,” Scarboro said. “Don’t poke a sleeping bear, and I think he poked a sleeping bear. Saturday is my show.”

Tension escalates further with Lawrence’s recent victory over Ferris Dixon Jnr in August. Scarboro acknowledged a connection between them: “There’s a sneaky teammate connection. Dixon and Wayne grew up together. They trained together. It’s kind of the same gym,” Scarboro explained. “I understand it’s harder the second time around. If you beat a football team, they come back harder. I’m well prepared.”

While boxing is Scarboro’s primary focus, he emphasizes the importance of education and helping others. “I’m a business administration major,” he said. “My career goals outside of boxing are through the roof. I want to chase my dreams, and I’m glad to be doing it in real life.”

Scarboro’s father, Francois Scarboro Snr, reflected on the differences between his son and Lawrence. “Nobody wants to take the long road to success, and we are the epitome of the long road,” he said. “Everyone is going to find out what hard work gets you versus a paint job on trash. I am not calling the kid trash. But anybody who tells me they stop the sport for a while to do what they want to do and then want to come back and beat someone who, even with a broken hand, was in the gym strengthening his left, or who, with sprained ankles, put a stool in front of a speed bag and hit it for hours, or someone who gets up at 6am every morning to swim for two hours, followed by five hours on the bridge, and still has time to sit in as a substitute teacher—there’s no way Bam, Bam is going to win this right here. We have the power of love behind us, the skill set, and it’s our destiny.”

As anticipation builds for this matchup, both fighters prepare to showcase their skills and ambitions in the ring. Scarboro’s confidence shines through, underscored by his strong religious belief: “I feel like I’m in the right situation at the right time. It’s a quote that I have tattooed on my arm: ‘God’s timing is perfect.’ I honestly believe God’s timing is perfect, and I have all the things in my world and myself.”