Frazer Clarke Still Hurting From Draw With Fabio Wardley

Heavyweight Frazer Clarke’s swellings may have healed, but the former Olympian is still feeling the emotional pain after his attritional and thrilling encounter with Fabio Wardley on March 31.

Clarke (8-0-1, 6 KOs) and Wardley (17-0-1, 16 KOs) fought each other to a split draw over 12 rounds as Clarke attempted to claim the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles away from his domestic rival at London’s O2 Arena.

Despite his efforts to outfight and outbox Wardley, who fought most of the contest with a nose seeping of blood, Clarke suffered the first knockdown of his career and was hurt on multiple occasions by the peak, tough Wardley. 

Despite being severely hurt on multiple occasions, Wardley more than played his part in proving wrong his initial doubters, who had tipped Clarke to relieve Fabio of his baubles due to Clarke’s outstanding amateur accolades and progression through the professional ranks, 

Despite the thrilling fight lighting the touch paper at the O2 and capturing significant TV audience numbers on Sky Sports, Clarke told Boxing Scene that in a few years’ time, he might be able to look back on the spectacle he produced with Wardley from a different point of view.

“I am very disappointed that I didn’t take the titles home,” Clarke said. “Everybody has been saying it was such a great fight, but maybe in a few years, I can look back on that fight with happiness. I am still very disappointed that I did not win that fight.” 

The former Olympian reiterated his wish to rematch Wardley sooner rather than later but conceded that it is up to Wardley if he wishes to hand him another opportunity to fight for the highest domestic honor in British boxing. 

“I hope so,” Clarke said of the possibility of a second fight. “There is a lot of business to sort out first, but maybe there will be a rematch.”

However, Clarke’s first priority is to return to the ring. Whether he walks straight into a highly anticipated rematch with Fabio or not is solely in the hands of Wardley.

“I don’t mind going straight into a rematch, but that is up to Fabio if he wants to make a rematch because I would have that rematch tomorrow,” Clarke insisted.

“As long as I am back in the ring, I’m happy.”