British Heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley has criticised Frazer Clarke‘s team for allowing their boxer to accept a fight with him on Easter Sunday.
The long-running, all-British rivalry has seen regular back-and-forths on social media over the past year. Following an in-ring showdown during Boxxer‘s undercard on Saturday, the news was revealed that Wardley will defend his British and Commonwealth titles against Clarke on March 31 at the 02 Arena in London.
Speaking with IFL TV following the Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez main event, Wardley revealed that he is unimpressed with Clarke’s development since transitioning to the professional ranks in 2022.
“It is all too soon for him, he is still not ready,” Wardley stressed. “it is the same thing that his team said to him the first time around, that they thought (fighting me) was too soon for him and that he needed more rounds.
“It is all good needing rounds and that, but if you are getting rounds against the likes of a 50-year-old Mariusz Wach who is just coming over to get punched around then it doesn’t really count for much.
“Maybe in terms of confidence, his team may feel that is what he needs. But in terms of quality opponents and being in the real thick of it moments in the pro ranks, he hasn’t done any of that yet. So if they want to feed him to me now, then fine, no worries.”
Both men have enjoyed inverse success in the amateur and professional ranks. Wardley has rapidly ascended the pro Heavyweight rankings despite lacking an amateur career of note, most recently claiming the British, Commonwealth and WBO European Heavyweight titles in a dominant stoppage victory over the previously undefeated David Adeleye.
Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Clarke has struggled to transfer his amateur success to the pros. The 32-year-old is yet to compete for a professional title and saw his stock plummet last time out as he was deducted two points for low blows en route to a retirement victory over journeyman David Allen.
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