There were lots of famous fighters in Saudi Arabia last weekend, the vast majority of them enjoying a lavish break in the winter sun. Frazer Clarke was there on business.
British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, Fabio Wardley, elevated himself to a different level by impressively stopping David Adeleye and Clarke decided that he needed to be a visible presence in Riyadh to make sure that he remained a part of the conversation.
His mission seems to have been a success. On Tuesday, he and Wardley spoke on Sky Sports and the unbeaten champion from Ipswich confirmed that he would be very interested in taking on the 2020 Olympic bronze medallist next.
“He knows I’m ready,” Clarke (8-0, 6 KO’s) said. “I went over there, not on the hunt for him, but just to seek him out and let him know that I’m ready. I was ready before but that’s been and gone. I want the fight, he says he wants the fight. He just needs to know that this isn’t David Adeleye or Nathan Gorman. It’s a different kettle of fish.”
Clarke and Wardley (17-0, 16 KO’s) were due to fight for the British title earlier this year but just before the purse bids were due to be announced, Clarke’s team withdrew him from the process, preferring him to get some more professional rounds under his belt before stepping up to championship calibre opposition. 32 year old Clarke wasn’t shy about voicing his displeasure at the decision but he has boxed 16 rounds since – outpointing the experience Maruisz Wach over ten and stopping Dave Allen in six – and feels like he will be more than ready to take his opportunity when it presents itself.
“Well done on his fight first and foremost. I thought he boxed well. I just want to fight him and I hope he wants to fight me,” Clarke said. “He says he does. Let’s get it on. I think in terms of British title fights, this will be the one. This isn’t like the idiot he boxed the other day. This is different gravy. It’s a proper fight. It’ll be respectful but don’t get me wrong, the needle is there. May the best man win when it happens.
“I was confident before but after the weekend, plaudits to him, he boxed well, but he’ll have to be a lot better than that to beat me. I do think I’ll knock him out. In fact, I know I’ll knock him out judging on what I see. He was good but he was fighting a blown up cruiser which he did a job on. He wasn’t offering nothing. He looked good doing it as well but it’ll be a different fight with me. I’ll knock him out.
“I sign that contract and I’m knocking them pearly whites down your throat, boy. You’ve done well. I credit you from where you’ve come from to what you’re doing. I’m knocking you unconscious.