Fabio Wardley knocks out Frazer Clarke in the first round of the heavyweight rematch
Fabio Wardley knocked out Frazer Clarke
Fabio Wardley knocks out Frazer Clarke in the first round of the heavyweight rematch. The heavyweight rematch ends in the first round as Fabio Wardley takes down Frazer Clarke. Wardley knocked out Clarke in the first round to retain his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
It was a stunning finish. An explosive overhand shot shook Clarke, and Wardley pinned him against the ropes. Clarke was in serious trouble, and even with little time left in the round, the referee had to call it off just 2:28 in. Back in March, Wardley and Clarke fought to a huge draw over the previous British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
Neither could afford to leave the matter unresolved, so with their determination to outdo each other, their rematch became inevitable. The first fight may have gone for 12 captivating rounds, but the second was over within minutes.
Clarke seemed to enjoy his walk to the ring and the moment he entered the Kingdom Arena. Wardley, on the other hand, was calm and moved straight to the center of the ring at the opening bell, feinting and testing for a reaction from his opponent.
Although Clarke kept his composure and had some initial success, his punches were solid, and when Wardley stepped into a straight left jab, he closed his eyes for a moment as if feeling its impact.
The big man from Burton caught the champion with a left hook as he retreated.
But when Wardley exploded into action, it was absolutely devastating. A right hook hit Clarke hard, shaking him severely.
Wardley immediately targeted the body with powerful shots while Clarke threw his left to fend off the champion.
He was looking for a way out of danger, just as he managed to do in the first fight. But this time, Wardley was clinical. A right hook pushed Clarke against the ropes. Clarke tried to gather himself, but Wardley landed another right hook with devastating force.
Clarke collapsed on the ropes, barely held up by an arm hanging by chance over a strand of the rope. He was severely hurt. Wardley later said, “I always said that once I hurt someone, I knew I could finish them off. I made mistakes in the first fight; I went into the first fight with my team and said it might not have been the right time, I faced some issues, fixed them, laid out the game plan properly, and executed it on the night.”
“Sometimes war is needed, and sometimes a bit of strategy is required. I had enough from the first fight to know I had to be a little sweeter, disguise it a bit better. ‘War’ by name, war by nature.
“Once my opponents are hurt, there’s no saving them… nothing will save them.”
The massive rematch between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke in the epic clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol is available on Sky Sports Box Office at 8 AM and 6 PM on Sunday. Order Wardley vs. Clarke 2 and Beterbiev vs. Bivol now!
