As per the teachings of the New Testament in the Holy Bible, Easter Sunday marks the momentous occasion of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, which occurred after his crucifixion by the Romans on Good Friday. This significant day is described in the Bible as the triumph over death, where ‘victory swallows up death’.
This year, in celebration of the occasion, Boxxer has made the decision to organize one of the most remarkable lineups in their promotional history. Frankly speaking, it’s quite a daring move to do so on a public holiday.
However, it is claimed that over 10,000 individuals have chosen to separate themselves from their Cadburys and delay their roast lamb plans in order to purchase a ticket for the o2 Arena to witness it. Those who have made this decision are in for an enjoyable experience.
The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between British champion Fabio Wardley and undefeated Frazer Clarke takes the spotlight on the stacked six-fight card. This bout has been the talk of the town ever since the infamous Purse Bid Gate scandal, where Boxxer controversially withdrew Clarke from the bid to challenge Wardley for the coveted Lonsdale belt, leaving him greatly disappointed.
It has been almost a year since then, and both men have continued their winning streaks. Wardley showcased his dominance with an impressive seventh-round knockout of David Adeleye, successfully defending his title. On the other hand, Clarke fought ten valuable rounds against Mariusz Wach before ultimately stopping Dave Allen.
Finally, the moment arrives when the two individuals will confront each other in a battle. On one side, there is a man completely devoid of any prior amateur experience. On the other side stands one of the most seasoned members of his generation, who has dedicated countless years to the unpaid ranks, participating in nearly three complete Olympic cycles.
“A lot could be made about that when you’re telling the story of the fight,” Wardley told Boxing News. “But the reality is, I don’t think it’s that important. We have both experienced different things in boxing and we both know how to handle ourselves in the ring. What this will come down to is who prepared best and who can put it into practice on the night. What happened in the past is not a big factor.”
However, the contrasting backgrounds pose a challenge in choosing the victor. From a logical standpoint, Clarke’s pedigree should triumph over Wardley, a former white collar boxer. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old from Ipswich possesses a significantly greater amount of professional experience than his opponent. Additionally, he has achieved more notable victories in the professional circuit compared to Clarke. Although Clarke effortlessly dispatched his less skilled adversaries initially, he also demonstrated his prowess as the competition level increased gradually.
Considering everything mentioned, it is unlikely that this match will go the full 12 rounds. Wardley has a track record of finishing his fights early, with 16 out of his 17 wins being stopped before the final bell. Additionally, Clarke has a strong record of six knockouts in eight fights. Although Wardley sometimes starts slow, providing Clarke with an early opportunity, it is uncertain if that will actually happen. Both fighters will undoubtedly have their shining moments, but the prediction is that Wardley will ultimately win the fight in the final quarter, resulting in a memorable battle.
The main undercard bout features Albanian fighter Florian Marku, hailing from Sheffield, taking on London’s Chris Kongo in the welterweight division. Marku has had very limited action in the past year and a half, with his last fight lasting only one minute against Dylan Moran. On the other hand, Kongo is coming into this fight after a closely contested majority decision loss to Ekow Essuman in January of the previous year. It is uncertain whether either fighter will be affected by their lack of recent fights, but this matchup promises to showcase Kongo’s slick skills against Marku’s relentless pressure and power.
Trained by Grant Smith in Sheffield, the left-handed Albanian boxer has achieved impressive stoppage victories against Rylan Charlton and Chris Jenkins. Considering their records, it appears that he is the more probable contender to secure an early ending in this bout. Meanwhile, Kongo has only managed one stoppage in almost six years. However, if he can effectively utilize his footwork and deliver quick combinations, he may have the advantage on the scorecards throughout the 10 rounds. This outcome seems to be the most likely scenario for this match.
Heavyweight Alen Babic, who hasn’t boxed since being defeated by Lukasz Rozanski in the bridgerweight division last April, may need to overcome some rustiness. This will be his first fight back, and he will be going up against Steve ‘Drago’ Robinson from Newcastle, who has a record of 6 wins and 2 losses. The match is scheduled for 10 rounds.
Robinson has experienced two losses in his last four fights, with his most recent defeat being an eight-round points loss to Franklin Ignatius in Newcastle last July. Nonetheless, it is highly unlikely that scoring will be necessary in this upcoming fight. Anticipate a revitalized Babic to break through during the middle rounds and secure the victory.
Additionally, an outstanding cruiserweight clash awaits between the unbeaten Viddal Riley and the former British champion Mikael Lawal, who recently relinquished his title to Isaac Chamberlain. With a record of 10-0 (6) at the age of 26, Riley has garnered significant praise as a prospective star in the division. However, facing Lawal will serve as the ideal test to gauge Riley’s true potential and standing.
The Londoner of Lagos origin had a disappointing performance against Chamberlain in October, but prior to that, he effortlessly reached the highest point of the local scene. Throughout these 10 rounds, we will discover the true abilities of Riley and the potential future of Lawal’s career. The decision will favor Riley.
Callum Simpson from Barnsley is set to face off against Dulla Mbabe from Tanzania in a 10-round bout on the card. Should Simpson emerge victorious without any injuries, he may have the opportunity to challenge Zak Chelli for the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles.
Ben Whittaker, on his way to the top of the light-heavyweight division, will continue his march in the card’s only eight-round bout against Central Area champion Leon Willings.
Whittaker’s showboating has sparked mixed reactions, but his undeniable talent sets him apart. With a flawless record of 6-0, including five quick victories, he has become one of the most buzzed-about boxers in Britain. However, Willings, hailing from Widnes, approaches this match with great ambition. At a young age of only 23, he understands that an upset in this fight could completely change the trajectory of his life.
The Verdict – Yet another terrific matchup for a British title atop a very enticing bill.
