At the top of an Easter Sunday card at the O2 Arena in London, Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke served up a classic, going to war in a thriller that was eventually a three-way split draw.
Wardley won the vacant British title in 2022, stopping Nathan Gorman, and added the vacant Commonwealth crown last October, halting David Adeleye in seven in Saudi Arabia. Olympic Bronze medallist, Clarke was making a significant step-up, and was coming off a retirement win against Dave Allen last September.
Clarke (8-0-1, 6 KOs) established his jab well in the first round, and that forced Wardley (17-0-1, 16 KOs) to step on the gas in the second, landing a massive right hand that hurt Clarke, but the two rounded off the session with an exchange.
Wardley’s nose showed signs of damage, but he chugged forward with slashing punches in the third, and both opened up in the fourth, with the contest seemingly ready to explode at any point.
The Ipswich man landed with a right hand in the fifth that buzzed Clarke, and he followed up with a frenzied attack that had the 32-year-old on the canvas.
The bell saved the Burton man, and both had their successes in the sixth, and the pair looked to be feeling the frantic early pace as the fight reached halfway.
A point was docked from Clarke in the seventh for a low blow, but he was coming on strongly, and with Wardley going past seven for the first time, he was in uncharted territory.
‘Big Fraze’ was also showing signs of fatigue as the bout went into the championship rounds, and with Wardley’s nose a crimson mess, the doctor was consulted in the tenth, with the champion deemed fit to continue.
The 29-year-old immediately went on the attack, landing with several heavy blows that shook his compatriot, and the pair teed off in what was absorbing stuff.
The belts looked up for grabs going into the final two frames, and after a close penultimate round, a right hand from Clarke with 40 seconds remaining drove Wardley unsteadily back to the ropes, but he admirably made it to the final bell.
A score of 114-113 to Wardley, and one at 115-112 for Clarke was trumped by a 113-113 card, and the bout was declared a stalemate.
Kongo stuns Marku
The grudge match, and the vacant IBO Intercontinental welterweight title, went the way of Chris Kongo, as he was too cute and slick for Florian Marku in a clear points win.
Marku (13-1-1, 8 KOs) just couldn’t get to grips with the slippery Kongo (15-2, 7 KOs), and the Albanian had a point deducted for hitting on the back of the head, and he was outgunned in the end, with the Londoner becoming the new champion by scores of 98-92, 96-93 and 96-94.
Whittaker overcomes rugged Willings
The enigmatic Ben Whittaker had a run out on the card, and was tested by Leon Willings, eventually having to settle for a win over the eight round distance at light heavyweight.
Willings (7-2, 2 KOs) was down in the opener from a flurry of punches, but acquitted himself well, in spite of some relentless showboating from the Olympic Silver medallist.
The dancing begins… 🕺
An aggressive start for Ben Whittaker, he’s 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙄𝙏! 😅i#WhittakerWillings x #WardleyClarke pic.twitter.com/967BKNM9zX
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) March 31, 2024
He also landed some clean shots, and lasted until the finish, where Whittaker (7-0, 5 KOs) was adjudged a 78-73 winner on the referee’s card.
Riley cruises past Lawal
In a forgettable cruiserweight ten rounder, current English champion Viddal Riley out hustled former British champion Mikael Lawal (17-2, 11 KOs) to record a points win and keep hold of his belt.
It was a tactical affair that Riley (11-0, 6 KOs) kept a step ahead in, and he ran out the winner by two scores of 99-91, and a third at 98-92.
The 26-year-old was confronted by current British and Commonwealth champion, Isaac Chamberlain at ringside following his victory.
Simpson stops Mbabe
Callum Simpson remained on course for a big 2024, as he knocked out Dulla Mbabe in the fourth round of their scheduled ten rounder at super middleweight.
The Tanzanian became ragged, and Simpson (14-0, 10 KOs) took full advantage, landing a left uppercut followed by a solid right hand that dumped Mbabe (34-14-1, 29 KOs) on the canvas, where he sat out the full count.
BACK WITH A BANG! 💥
Callum Simpson KNOCKS-OUT Dulla Mbabe with a fantastic right hand! 👊#SimpsonMbabe x #WardleyClarke pic.twitter.com/h2sqRAwCkQ
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) March 31, 2024
Babic back to winning ways
The action began with a crossroads clash at heavyweight, and Alen Babic forced a sixth round stoppage against Steve Robinson.
Babic (12-1, 11 KOs) had been blasted out inside a round in a bid for the WBC bridgerweight title in his most recent contest, but he zapped a lot of Robinson’s energy in the first round with some crude work and uppercuts from short range.
Robinson (6-3, 4 KOs) was offering little throughout, and after taking a lot of punishment, the referee mercifully stepped in to stop the contest.
