PORTMAN ROAD WOULD BE FAB
Wardley wants Clarke rematch at home of Ipswich Town
FABIO WARDLEY is up for facing Frazer Clarke in a rematch at the home of his beloved Ipswich Town.
The British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion held on to his belts after a bloody and bruising draw with his rival at the O2 on Sunday night.
Wardley had to dig in during the slugfest as blood poured from a nasty cut on the bridge of his nose and he absorbed some huge right hands.
But he managed to floor Clarke in the fifth. That knockdown, and a point off for the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist for a low blow in the seventh, were crucial.
It all made for an entertaining clash that fans will be desperate to see again.
Wardley said: “The rematch is an option, isn’t it? The fans are probably going to ask for that.
“I’m never going to count a draw as a win, but I’ve still got my belts and there are a lot of options on the table.
“We will take some time and see where we go.
“Everyone at the club (Ipswich) have been huge supporters of me. A few of them came to the fight.
“Bringing a fight to Portman Road is on the cards and something I’ve been talking about for a long time.
“Whether it is the rematch or something else, I’d like to tick that off before the end of my career.”
Wardley maintained his unbeaten record with the hard-fought draw in his 18th fight but he admitted it didn’t make pretty viewing for his family.
“I was worrying about my mum,” Wardley said.
“They were sat ringside so I was thinking they are not going to enjoy this one.
“I’m not happy with the performance, there were mistakes but I’m still learning and that fight taught me a lot.”
The battle will go down as a memorable British clash but Clarke was not in the mood to take solace from that afterwards.
The former amateur star had to settle for a draw which meant he left the O2 empty-handed, even if his own unbeaten record remained intact.
“It will take a while to get being part of a great fight as a nice feeling,” said the Burton-on-Trent native.
“I’m a winner so I’m gutted. I wanted them titles, I wanted to take the titles back to Burton and to my kids.”