Wardley Defends Titles, Clarke Faces Surgery

Frazer Clarke suffered a brutal first-round knockout defeat to Fabio Wardley during their British heavyweight title rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Wardley, who defended his British and Commonwealth titles, landed a powerful right hook that left Clarke with a fractured jaw and cheekbone, necessitating surgery. Despite the severe injury, Clarke is expected to recover in six to eight weeks without needing metal plates, and he has expressed his respect for Wardley's power. The fight, a rematch of their March 2023 draw, lasted just two minutes and 28 seconds. Wardley, now boasting an 18-0-1 record, expressed readiness to compete at the world level. The bout concluded with Wardley sending well wishes to Clarke, reflecting the sportsmanship between the fighters.