Big Fight Preview & Prediction: Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke

FightPost: MMA & Boxing News

March 30

The British heavyweight title is steeped in history. Henry Cooper, Joe Bugner, Gary Mason, Lennox Lewis, Herbie Hide, Anthony Joshua, and many others have held the prestigious Lonsdale belt at some stage in their careers. It is an illustrious roll call of talent that tells many a story. Unlike many a bauble in a sport that throws belts around like confetti at a wedding, the Lonsdale belt still carries plenty of meaning. And importance. For the challenger for that belt this weekend, it carries even more meaning. The former Olympian bronze medallist faces a champion who started out in the wild west world of white-collar. In normal times, it should just be a matter of how Clarke wins, and not if.

But it is Fabio Wardley who is odds on to retain his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles on the latest Boxxer card this weekend. The days on the unlicensed and ungoverned white-collar circuit are long behind him. Seventeen fights in, all wins, Wardley is arguably the most improved domestic fighter around. Last time out, he ended the unbeaten record of David Adeleye in some style. A stoppage win that was seemingly achieved with many more gears yet to go through. Make no mistake, Wardley was seriously impressive in stopping Adeleye last October.

But is Clarke also a fighter who has more gears to show. Are we too easily dismissing that extensive amateur pedigree at the expense of eight professional fights that have seen Clarke struggle to be inspired by the opponents placed in front of him?

Based on what we have seen of late, Clarke will need to raise his game considerably to beat Wardley. In truth, he has to. But is this one of those fights where the bookies have got it wrong? And badly.

Clarke has the amateur pedigree, but as a professional, he hasn't hit the heights expected of him. Niggling injuries, uninspiring opposition, Clarke has struggled in many ways. But does the former Olympian just need a dance partner that instils some semblance of fear in him for Clarke to show his best form? On Sunday, in Wardley, he has that opponent.

There is that argument that it has come too soon for Frazer Clarke. But has it come too late for him? At 32, did he stay amateur too long for the detriment of his professional career? Is Fabio Wardley just too fresh for him? We will get the answers to those questions at the O2 Arena in London on Sunday night.

"Everyone I have boxed so far I could have beaten on my worst day," Clarke told me a few weeks ago. But he knows he will need his best day to win on Sunday. But will that even be good enough? There are so many questions that Clarke has to answer. The jury is still very much out on his professional credentials.

Wardley (17-0) is on the rise. He is probably one of the most improved fighters in the sport. We know he can be hurt, but he always finds a way to ride out the storm and come back to win. Against Adeleye, he won without drama. That performance is head and shoulders above anything Clarke has done in a professional ring. All the doubts leading up to this make-or-break fight are with Clarke. All the pressure rides with him also. If he loses to Wardley, and heavily, it could be all over for him. It really is that kind of fight.

Both fighters deserve immense credit for taking the fight. It is an almighty gamble for both, especially for Clarke. Everyone in the Frazer Clarke will be extremely nervous as that first bell nears.

The form line tells us that Clarke will lose. Wardley looks to be getting better with each fight. While Clarke just hasn't convinced. Does Clarke have the power to hurt Wardley? Does he have the stamina to stay the course with Wardley? But are we insulting Clarke by writing him off so easily?

Clarke (8-0) does seem different this time. An edge to him. This is the type of fight he has craved since he turned professional, and he has prepared in a manner that he hasn't before. The critics have only fuelled him for his fight with Wardley. It could just be one of those fights where everybody has just got it wrong. A fight that brings back memories of Gary Mason vs. Lennox Lewis. That was the night many forgot what Lewis brought to the table. Post-fight, the battered face of Mason reminded everyone. Is this a similar fight?

I don't see the fight going the distance. At some point, one of them will go. But picking which fighter will leave March still unbeaten, is far more problematic than most people think. Despite the odds, it is very much a fight of real intrigue. It is accurate to say that both will enter that O2 ring on Sunday night knowing that either of them could lose.

The sensible pick is Wardley, but sometimes you have to dig and think a little deeper. I think Clarke will be inspired, and as good as Wardley looked against Adeleye, I think he'll find Clarke a totally different proposition. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if Wardley wears down a fading opponent who had been too slow to inflict any real damage on Wardley and leave the many critics of Clarke going home happy that they have been proved right.

But if Clarke can raise his game, he might just know a little too much for the current British heavyweight champion who has no amateur background behind whatsoever. Will that be the difference on Sunday?

It is Clarke who badly needs a good start. If it doesn't come, Wardley surely wins. The early rounds will almost certainly decide who wins, and who doesn't.

I think Clarke will keep it tight and look to box his way into an early lead, and I think he won't have too much trouble finding the target. That is when I think his greater fundamentals will be the difference. It isn't a pick with any degree of confidence, but I believe Clarke gets Wardley out of there in the final third of the fight.

'Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke both weighed in today ahead of their hotly anticipated 'Bad Blood' Easter Sunday showdown tomorrow night at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Their unbeaten heavyweight clash for the British and Commonwealth Titles tops a stack card in the capital that also features further 'Bad Blood' clashes between warring welterweights Florian Marku and Chris Kongo, London cruiserweight rivals Viddal Riley and Mikael Lawal plus the return of viral boxing sensation Ben Whittaker and rising super middleweight star Callum Simpson.'

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM LONDON:

12X3 - BRITISH, COMMONWEALTH, WBA CONTINENTAL & WBO EUROPEAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

FABIO WARDLEY – 17st 5lbs / 243lbs

FRAZER CLARKE – 19st / 266lbs

10X3 - IBO INTERCONTINENTAL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

FLORIAN MARKU – 10st 6lbs / 146lbs

CHRIS KONGO – 10st 6lbs 5oz / 146lbs

10X3 - ENGLISH CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

VIDDAL RILEY – 14st 2lbs 5oz / 198lbs

MIKAEL LAWAL – 14st 2lbs / 198lbs

8X3 - LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

BEN WHITTAKER – 12st 9lbs / 177lbs