Frazer Clarke, the British heavyweight boxer who won bronze at the 2020 Olympics, has drawn inspiration from former foe Fabio Wardley. Their rivalry was notable for its intensity and physicality, with both fighters suffering injuries during their encounters.
Clarke believes he can still become a world champion after facing Wardley twice. Despite losing in both bouts, Clarke is optimistic that his experience and hard work will ultimately pay off. "If Fabio can do it - he has two arms and two legs like me, works hard like me, he's a fighter like me - why can't I?" Clarke said.
Their first fight was held in Saudi Arabia last year, with Wardley emerging victorious after just one round. However, Clarke had surgery to repair damage to his jaw following the defeat.
The pair will face each other again at the British title on BBC Two next Saturday. Clarke is looking to avenge his loss and prove that he still has what it takes to be a world champion.
Wardley, who became the WBO heavyweight champion last year after defeating Joseph Parker in the "interim" title bout, has had a remarkable rise from his unlicensed white-collar scene beginnings to the top of the sport. Clarke acknowledges Wardley's impressive journey and is determined to follow in his footsteps.
"Ipswich's Wardley has had a remarkable rise from the unlicensed white-collar scene to world champion," Clarke said. "He's inspiring for me and I'll tell a lot of other people about Fabio's story. So the respect is there."
The fight against TKV will provide an opportunity for Clarke to prove himself once again and take another step towards his goal of becoming a world champion.
Clarke believes he can still become a world champion after facing Wardley twice. Despite losing in both bouts, Clarke is optimistic that his experience and hard work will ultimately pay off. "If Fabio can do it - he has two arms and two legs like me, works hard like me, he's a fighter like me - why can't I?" Clarke said.
Their first fight was held in Saudi Arabia last year, with Wardley emerging victorious after just one round. However, Clarke had surgery to repair damage to his jaw following the defeat.
The pair will face each other again at the British title on BBC Two next Saturday. Clarke is looking to avenge his loss and prove that he still has what it takes to be a world champion.
Wardley, who became the WBO heavyweight champion last year after defeating Joseph Parker in the "interim" title bout, has had a remarkable rise from his unlicensed white-collar scene beginnings to the top of the sport. Clarke acknowledges Wardley's impressive journey and is determined to follow in his footsteps.
"Ipswich's Wardley has had a remarkable rise from the unlicensed white-collar scene to world champion," Clarke said. "He's inspiring for me and I'll tell a lot of other people about Fabio's story. So the respect is there."
The fight against TKV will provide an opportunity for Clarke to prove himself once again and take another step towards his goal of becoming a world champion.
after facing off with Fabio Wardley twice before. I think it's awesome that he's drawing inspiration from their intense rivalry - who wouldn't want to learn from someone they've gone toe-to-toe with? 
Clarke's determination and willingness to put in the hard work are definitely admirable, especially considering his jaw surgery was a setback. He's got heart and if anyone can come back stronger than before, it's him 
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. This fight against TKV could be a turning point for Clarke - we'll have to wait and see how it plays out! 
. Like, think about it - Wardley just rose from nothing to become world champ, but was that really fair? I mean, what if there's something fishy going on in the boxing scene? Maybe he got some help or shady connections that nobody knows about 
. And now Clarke is saying he can beat him? That's gonna be a tough nut to crack 
. And what about all the people who doubted Clarke after his first loss? Now he's all optimistic again, but can he really take down Wardley? 
. It's like... it's not just about two guys throwing punches at each other anymore. There's something bigger going on here 
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. He needs to face reality and accept he's not the best in the ring yet. The BBC Two fight is gonna be a tough one for him, and I think Wardley's gonna come out on top 
, Fabio Wardley's rise from unlicensed white-collar scene beginnings to WBO heavyweight champion is crazy 
. I'm rooting for Frazer Clarke too, his determination and hard work are really inspiring 