Just over a month on from his brutal British title classic against Fabio Wardley, Frazer Clarke ponders what is next for him in the heavyweight division in his latest column.
Fabio celebrated a draw, I was gutted
It’s been just over a month since the Fabio Wardley fight and it is not one I have watched back yet. I really struggle with it. I know I should watch it again, but I don’t want to, I know as soon as I start doing that I will be picking the bones out of the mistakes I made. Some of them I already know in my head.
I’ve had a few weeks to think on it and eventually we’ll go through it all. Thinking back to what was going through my head after the draw decision was called out, you can see from the post-fight pictures when both our hands were raised, I was gutted while I think Fabio was celebrating the draw.
I think he knew he was a little bit lucky, if I’m being honest. I was devastated and it did feel like a loss.
It was a hard few days afterwards. I thought I had done enough. Of course, there was the knockdown which I accept but I was not hurt. The point I lost was harsh and I think there was a lot of inconsistency there – if I lost a point, maybe Fabio should have too which might have been enough to tip things in my favour.
But these are all ifs and buts. What happened, happened. I am hoping we can run it again next. But if not, I am sure we will both go our separate ways and at some point in the future we meet again at some point.
Saudi a natural next step – but UK fans deserve the rematch
Me and my team have had conversations about what is next. I like having those conversations straight away if I’m honest, because I like to know what’s next on the agenda and keep myself in check.
For me, I would love the rematch. But there are other discussions going on too. I am flying out to Saudi Arabia next week for a chat. So there are huge things lined up either way but for the sake of my conscience, we need to do it again.
For the British fight fans, we owe it to them and we owe it to ourselves to get a winner. But that’s from my side. Fabio will have his own thoughts and his own journey and he also needs to do what is best for him.
Fighting in Saudi is a realistic option for me. A lot of the big fights are heading that way and I want to be involved in the big fights. It is a natural place to go. I have been out there for the big cards and seen how massive it is. It is a lot different to fighting in the UK.
But after that war with Fabio, that is the type of fight I want to be involved in, a huge event. At the moment, that is a possibility. But after the way fans turned up for me in London at the O2, there is no doubt that the UK is the place for big fights. The crowd makes the fight and it was so special that night. Whether it’s here, or in Saudi, I want to get boxing again.
Sparring with Kabayel ahead of summer return
As far as fighting again is concerned, I will be ready to go this summer. Fighters need to fight. I’ll be banging that drum to get on a show over the summer, definitely. I’m used to being active, I’m fit and healthy so I see no reason why I can’t be out again the coming months.
After the fight in March, I was able to get away with the family which was very important, they got neglected a bit through the fight camp because every ounce of concentration was on fight night. So I needed to do that, do some normal things again.
But I’ve also been been back in the gym more recently too because that is my environment.
This week, I have been in Dusseldorf, sparring with Agit Kabayel. He is in a good place, fighting Frank Sanchez in a few weeks on the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk undercard.
I’m coming off a bit of a holiday so it’s been a major step up from where I’ve been the last few weeks. It’s another great learning experience, I love being in that environment and that’s where I want to be.
MORE : Married Tory Lord’s name appears on baby’s birth certificate
MORE : A £4,000,000,000 floating theme park is Saudi Arabia’s latest bonkers project
MORE : Al-Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah whipped by supporter after Saudi Super Cup final
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
