Fabio Wardley stated he is ready to challenge for the world heavyweight title after brutally destroying Frazer Clarke in the first round, despite his relative inexperience compared to his global competitors.
Wardley put in a sensational performance in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, and left Clarke with a sickening grimace and a dent in his face after a series of right hands to his English rival.
“I’m ready to fight these boys. I have the power to communicate with them all, I can fire back and I can start a war,” Wardley said after quickly defending his British crown.
“You saw me do everything. I’m ready for that world stage now.”
But others in line for a world title shot are ahead of Wardley. Fighting the likes of Joseph Parker, Martin Bakole, Agit Kabayel, Zhilei Zhang and Anthony Joshua would be a step in the right direction for Wardley, who is ranked No. 8 with two world governing bodies and No. 9 with another.
Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KO) (29) from Ipswich must defeat a top-10 opponent to secure a chance at one of the world titles, three of which (WBC, WBA and WBO) are held by Oleksandr Usyk, who will face Tyson Fury in a rematch on December 21.
Daniel Dubois, who is promoted by Queensberry Promotions like Wardley, is the IBF champion after knocking out Joshua last month.
While Wardley’s performance was stunning, fighting another top-10 opponent would be a gigantic step up in his class. However, as he has shown, Wardley has the strength to finish off experienced boxers, just as Clarke did when he won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics.
Wardley and Clarke fought 12 rounds in a thrilling fight last March that ended in a draw, but the rematch ended after one round.
“I judged the first fight enough to know that I was successful in that war mode, we just had to be a little sweeter and put it together in a little nicer way, disguise it a little better,” Wardley said.
“But I can’t support it. War in name, war in nature. When I hurt my enemies, there will be no salvation for them unless the bell comes.”
According to reports, Clarke (8-1-1, 6 KO), 33, underwent surgery on Sunday for a suspected broken cheekbone, and the defeat is a earnest blow to his hopes of appearing in gigantic fights in Saudi Arabia – repairing the cheekbone may be easier than fixing your career.
Another English fighter who was taken to a local hospital was 27-year-old lithe heavyweight Ben Whittaker (8-0-1, 5 KO), who was injured when he went over the top rope and left the ring with opponent Liam Cameron in a scene reminiscent of WWE.
Whittaker, the silver medalist at the Tokyo Games, left the ring in a wheelchair and a rematch after a technical draw in the fifth round seems likely.
Eubank Jr. Fight and Benn getting closer
Chris Eubank Jr. clashed with Conor Benn in the ring after his predictable seventh-round win over Kamil Szeremeta, suggesting the English rivals will line up against each other in the event of the season in Riyad.
With Benn banned from boxing in the UK after testing positive for a banned substance in 2022, the Eubank vs. Benn fight could take place in the Gulf country.
Benn, who has been fighting at welterweight, may have to move up to middleweight, where Eubank (34-3, 25 KO) is trying to get the fight he so desperately wants, but now it looks like making that fight is closer than ever whenever.
In October 2022, Benn (23-0, 14 KO) tested positive for a banned substance, which resulted in the cancellation of the planned fight with Eubank.
The British Boxing Board of Control subsequently banned Benn, who has since fought twice in non-title fights outside the UK.
Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, fathers of Chris Jr. and Conor, had two epic encounters in 1990 and 1993, and the clash between their sons generated huge interest in the UK.
Eubank Jr.’s promoter Ben Shalom said last week that the English boxer could face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2025, but it now appears the focus is on the Benn fight, as Eubank suggested in a media post social media.
Eubank Jr. posted a photo showing his fight with Benn on the X, with the caption: “I think I’ve already got the next scrap lined up.”
Benn also alluded to the fight on social media, appointment: “I promise I will beat this idiot in three rounds.”
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