FIGHT THEN FLIGHT
THE boxing cliche is that you never look past your next fight – but Frazer Clarke has taken that a step further.
Not just content with refusing to plot his next fight should he win, the British heavyweight hopeful has even banned his girlfriend from booking a post-bout holiday.
Clarke, 32, is preparing himself for the biggest night of his paid career so far as he takes on Fabio Wardley for the British and Commonwealth titles tomorrow at the O2 in London.
“I know it is the old cliche, but I’m not looking past this fight,” said Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Clarke.
“I wouldn’t even let my girlfriend book a holiday. There’s no celebration plans.
“They’ll be decided when I win. Until then it is all on Sunday night.”
But a win for either man will open up doors and put them closer to world title contention.
“This could be my breakthrough fight as a professional,” said Clarke.
“I’ve come from an amateur background and boxed on terrestrial TV but this is a real rivalry, headlining on a big show and on Easter Sunday. Hopefully the nation will be tuned in.”
It looked like this intriguing heavyweight match-up might not happen when Clark was pulled out of purse bids for it last year.
His promoter Ben Shalom pulled the plug on the bout with the then Eddie Hearn-backed Wardley as he felt the Olympian wasn’t ready for a 12-round fight. Clarke was furious with his promoter and now former management team 258 over the decision.
It led to criticism of the heavyweight from fans and Ipswich native Wardley, a former whitecollar boxer who has forged an impressive professional career so far.
“It hurt me,” said Clarke. “I got told I was pulling out of a fight.
“That’s not me, that’s not what I’m about. If you know me, you know I take on all challenges. It wasn’t my decision, I wasn’t happy about it but it was part of a bigger plan.
“Now here we are, the fight is happening, as I always said it would. I’d never run from anyone.”
Clarke had a long amateur career as he had to bide his time for an Olympic chance as he watched Anthony Joshua shine at London 2012 before Joe Joyce took the super-heavyweight spot in 2016.
Then there was the Covid delay to his big year in Tokyo, so he’s a latecomer to the pro game with just eight fights to his name.
“I’m progressing at the pace I need to and world titles will soon be in reach,” he added.
First he must beat Wardley and remain unbeaten. And maybe get that holiday booked.