22:46:42
HAPPY EASTER
The incredible night of boxing at the O2 Arena has come to an end. If there is a more thrilling fight than Wardley-Clarke this year, I am eagerly anticipating it. Wishing you a goodnight and God’s blessings.
22:43:15
IT’S A DRAW!
Boxing never fails to deliver an absolutely insane fight where neither contender emerges as the clear victor.
114-113 – Wardley
115-112 – Clarke
113-113 – DRAW
22:39:58
WE GO TO THE SCORECARDS… AGAIN
The unstoppable duo has completed an astonishing 12 rounds, leaving everyone breathless. This fight is truly incredible. The anticipation for the winner builds up as we patiently wait.
22:35:45
ANOTHER CRAZY ROUND
There is an increase in the exchange of blows. Wardley’s facial expression continues to deteriorate, with a notable swelling under his right eye in addition to the cut on his nose. It is a mystery how he manages to remain on his feet. Not only is he still standing, but he is also delivering forceful counterattacks. The final round is approaching.
22:29:40
DOCTOR HAPPY!
Steve Gray summons the doctor to examine Wardley’s bleeding nose, but surprisingly, Wardley remains cheerful amidst the chaos. Undeterred, they continue their battle, with Wardley intensifying the pressure. The fight becomes increasingly wild and unbelievable.
22:26:56
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS
Wardley is visibly struggling, constantly coughing up blood with his nose in a dire condition. This presents a tremendous chance for Frazer Clarke to claim the British heavyweight championship.
22:22:57
BLEEDING HECK
Wardley’s face is in complete disarray, oozing blood from a profound gash on the bridge of his nose. They hastily tend to his injuries in the corner, but this will undoubtedly attract Clarke’s attention, who has been quietly falling behind. With only four rounds remaining, the outcome of this situation hangs in the balance.
22:19:00
POINT OFF FOR CLARKE
The referee, Steve Gray, penalizes Frazer Clarke for a painful low blow against Wardley, resulting in the deduction of a point. Wardley takes his time to recover from the impact. With Clarke already knocked down and a point deducted, this turn of events raises the question of how significant this could be for the overall outcome, as we reach the seventh round.
22:14:31
SIX DOWN
The sixth round has become dominated by Wardley as he aims to build on his success in the fifth. It’s quite a remarkable transformation for the British champion, considering the initial moments of uncertainty. Will Wardley be able to secure a knockout victory at this point, or will Clarke make a comeback?
22:10:35
CLARKE DOWN!
Suddenly, Fabio Wardley bursts into action, launching an assault on the retreating Clarke with everything he’s got. A massive right hand connects, causing Clarke to hit the canvas, but he manages to rise before the count of eight. The fifth round concludes with the bell, putting an end to Wardley’s relentless attack.
22:06:41
MORE DRAMA
Once again, Clarke spots Wardley approaching and lands a perfectly timed right hand, showcasing exceptional action. However, even after enduring punishment, the resilient champion Wardley refuses to relent and retaliates with another powerful right hand counter. This exhilarating display is truly captivating.
22:02:33
BAD BLOOD
Wardley’s face is a gruesome sight as the bell signals the end of the third round. It seems that he has once again suffered a cut on the bridge of his nose, a recurring issue for him. Clarke’s right hand punches have been consistently landing, much to the delight of him and his team, who must be very satisfied with their performance so far.
21:58:42
WHAT A ROUND
Clarke is demonstrating exquisite boxing skills, landing precise uppercuts and straight right hands on Wardley. However, the moment Wardley sensed his opponent’s power, he retaliated strongly, aiming to end the fight immediately. This display of skill and determination is truly exceptional.
21:54:33
WE’RE OFF
The first round concludes with Clarke delivering the most impactful punches – a powerful combination of double jab and cross right on target. Wardley also had his shining moments, skillfully evading a jab and retaliating with a well-placed right hand. Undoubtedly, this bout is already evolving into a timeless classic.
21:38:23
MAIN EVENT TIME
As “Sweet Caroline” fills the air, Big Mo takes center stage in the ring, causing everyone to go wild. The atmosphere is electric as the main event is about to commence, and excitement is reaching its peak.
21:29:36
ADAM AZIM V HARLEM EUBANK IS ON
Prior to the introduction of the main event fighters, Boxxer presents Adam Azim and Harlem Eubank in the ring, anticipating an upcoming fight between the two British light-welterweights.
21:25:32
KONGO UD!!
All three in favour of your winner CHRIS KONGO!
96-94
96-93
98-92
21:23:05
BACK TO THOSE PESKY SCORECARDS
As the final bell rings at the end of the 10th round, both teams erupt in celebration as if they have just won the World Cup. However, amidst the jubilation, one of these men is unaware that his fate is about to be determined. The moment of truth is approaching.
21:19:46
INTO THE LAST WE GO
As the 10th and final round commences, the crowd bursts into a frenzy. Will either of these two contenders be able to secure a knockout?
21:13:17
POINT OFF FOR MARKU
The deduction of a point from Marku for repeatedly punching the back of the head leaves his legion of noisy followers inside the arena greatly dismayed. This raises the question of how significant this deduction will turn out to be.
21:09:12
KING KONG
At this point, Kongo is gradually gaining ground against Marku, as he strives to make an impact. However, Marku remains relentless in his advance, refusing to back down. With only three rounds left, the situation is incredibly tense and balanced.
21:05:18
SIX DOWN
With six already down, there are only four more to go in this intense grudge match. The competition has been incredibly close up until now, and everything is still up for grabs as we head into the final stretch.
20:56:27
FOUR DOWN
This fight has evolved into the anticipated clash between Marku, who aggressively advances to apply pressure, and Kongo, who utilizes his height and reach advantages to outbox his smaller opponent while moving backward. It presents a captivating blend of contrasting styles.
20:52:07
KONGO CUT
Marku begins to narrow the distance between him and Kongo, gradually closing the gap. Consequently, the Londoner suffers a visibly unpleasant gash around his right eye. The score now stands at three to zero.
20:43:36
WIFI DOWN
I believe the Albanian fans have created such an electrifying atmosphere that the wifi signal has been disrupted. Nonetheless, I am now able to continue with my work. The first round has concluded, and Marku and Kongo wasted no time in getting into action. The venue is filled with excitement and energy.
20:36:12
WHO’S NEXT?
Let me inform you about the exciting matchup between Florian Marku and Chris Kongo. Currently, Chris Kongo is already inside the boxing ring, while Florian Marku is being escorted by an Albanian rapper. This promises to be an enjoyable spectacle.
20:32:57
JOB DONE FOR WHITTAKER
PIC LAWRENCE LUSTIG/BOXXER
20:25:42
WHITTAKER DECISION
As anticipated, referee Sean McAvoy proclaims Ben Whittaker victorious with a score of 78-73. The Surgeon now boasts a record of 7 wins, 5 of which were knockouts. Willings, on the other hand, has a record of 7 wins and 2 losses, with 2 knockouts.
20:23:52
BACK TO THE SCORECARDS
Despite being dropped in round one, Leon Willings regroups and perseveres through eight rounds, gaining numerous fans and earning widespread respect. Although he did not emerge victorious in this particular fight, it could potentially mark a significant turning point in his career.
Now for the scores…
20:19:52
ONE LEFT
Willings exerts a tremendous amount of force into a powerful right hand punch, but unfortunately, he completely misses his target and ends up spinning around and landing on the canvas once again. Both fighters had their shining moments in the seventh round… and now, it’s time for the eighth and final round.
20:16:32
HERE COMES WHITTAKER
Whittaker is actively seeking to end the fight and corners Willings against the ropes. He effectively lands consecutive straight right hands and left hooks to the body, finding more success in this position. Despite enduring numerous blows, Willings never appears severely injured.
20:11:49
BACK COMES WILLINGS
Despite delivering numerous powerful punches, Willings continues to fight back and in the fifth round, he experiences his greatest success of the match. He lands left hooks and precise uppercuts while positioned against the ropes. Whittaker, on the other hand, demonstrates great resilience and manages to withstand these blows. Only three rounds remain.
20:03:49
THREE DOWN
Willings endured an excessive amount of time on the ropes in the third round, enduring a barrage of punishment. Whittaker has now established a rhythm, enabling him to delve into his vast repertoire of skills. Initially, he interrupts his boxing to request that Willings’ boisterous coach maintain a lower volume, and then proceeds to entertain the crowd by gracefully dancing on the ropes.
19:59:51
BUBBLING NICELY
Willings kicks off the second round with a precise one-two, left hook combo that earns applause from the spectators. This only fuels Whittaker’s determination, as he retaliates with two powerful right hands. The 23-year-old displays impressive resilience. The match is becoming more intense, with six rounds left.
19:54:38
FAST START
Whittaker wastes no time and immediately finds his rhythm, delivering powerful shots with great intensity. He lands a right hand and knocks down Willings in the middle of the first round, but Willings manages to get back up. Whittaker relentlessly continues his attack, throwing more powerful right hands at Willings, who manages to survive until the end of the round. It is clear that this fight won’t go on for much longer.
19:45:35
WHITTAKER V WILLINGS UP NEXT
We are now at the fourth fight out of six, with Leon Willings currently in the ring and Ben Whittaker about to make his entrance. This match is scheduled to last eight rounds.
19:39:58
CHAOS AT RINGSIDE
During Riley’s post-fight interviews, a heated exchange ensues between him and Isaac Chamberlain, the reigning British champion. The situation escalates when Chev Clarke, Chamberlain’s mandatory challenger, unexpectedly joins the confrontation. As tensions rise and physical altercations seem imminent, the interview is abruptly terminated.
19:30:29
WE GO TO THE SCORECARDS – RILEY UD
Alexander 98-92
Foster, Gray: 99-91
As expected, Riley emerges victorious on all three scorecards with an impressive and refined performance. However, it is a disheartening night for Lawal, who has now suffered two consecutive losses since October.
19:26:29
FINAL ROUND
Riley secures another victory at the bank, effortlessly maneuvering in and out of Lawal’s range, leaving his opponent unable to land any significant strikes. The former British champion experiences a disappointing evening.
19:21:48
TWO LEFT
Riley’s boxing performance is impressive as he skillfully avoids any trouble and consistently lands hits on Lawal whenever he decides to stand still. At this stage, it seems highly likely that Riley is leading on the scorecards, leaving Lawal with no choice but to secure an improbable and dramatic knockout if he hopes to win.
19:14:22
SAME STORY
Lawal finds it difficult to get a good grip on Riley due to his elusive nature. Surprisingly, in the sixth round, Riley successfully traps his opponent in the corner and lands punches to the head and body. Now, round seven is about to begin.
19:10:22
HALFWAY HOME
The intensity rises in the fifth round as Lawal connects with a powerful left hook, swiftly countered by Riley’s impressive right hand. However, it remains a relatively mild exchange, with neither fighter sustaining any significant damage or being in any imminent danger.
19:06:24
INTO FIVE
There hasn’t been much action so far, with only four rounds down. The two opponents are not engaging in much exchange at the moment. It seems like this fight isn’t meeting the expectations of many. Now, we’re heading into the fifth round.
18:58:19
RILEY SUCCESS
There isn’t much to update on the current situation as the fight has established a predictable pattern: Lawal dominates the center of the ring, aggressively pursuing his opponent, while Riley opts to circle around the ring’s perimeter. Despite this, it is Riley who manages to land more significant punches during the second round, precisely connecting with two powerful right hands.
18:54:22
WE’RE OFF
The initial round was quite uneventful as both men cautiously observed each other without revealing much. Despite the arena being filled to capacity, there was an unusual silence prevailing, with minimal action taking place in the ring.
18:48:01
HERE COME LAWAL AND RILEY
Coming up next is a captivating 10-round cruiserweight bout featuring the undefeated Viddal Riley and Mikael Lawal, who is stepping into the ring for the first time since losing his British title to Isaac Chamberlain in October.
18:36:22
CHELLI v SIMPSON NEXT
Next up for Simpson is a showdown against Zak Chelli, the reigning British champion, as confirmed by promoter Ben Shalom, who acknowledges Chelli’s presence at ringside.
According to Shalom, there is a scarcity of fighters in the UK who possess such devastating knockout power.
“We have made a promise to take him on a trip to Barnsley where a thrilling British title fight awaits. May the most deserving contender emerge victorious.”
18:29:51
IT’S ALL OVER
Mbabe is taken down by a chilling right hand, causing him to be counted out by referee Mark Bates. Simpson’s performance is incredibly impressive, and the finish is worthy of being in a highlight reel. The task is completed, with the official stoppage time recorded as 1 minute and 10 seconds into the fourth round.
18:27:48
RAPID FIRE
In the beginning of the third round, Simpson delivers a powerful right-hand punch that shakes Mbabe to his core, causing him to stumble but manage to stay on his feet. Undeterred, the determined Barnsley fighter continues his assault with a barrage of quick and successive punches. However, his opponent from Tanzania showcases incredible resilience, refusing to be knocked down.
18:23:38
MORE OF THE SAME
In round two, there is an increase in one-way traffic as Simpson impressively lands flashy three and even four-punch combinations, which Mbabe is unable to avoid. Notably, Simpson is not sitting down during the breaks between rounds, showing his determination and readiness. As we enter round three…
18:19:34
THE SIMPSON
With the support of boisterous Barnsley fans, Callum Simpson begins strongly and intensifies the pressure on Mbabe as the first half nears its end. Although the match is set for 10 rounds, based on Simpson’s performance, it seems unlikely to reach that stage.
18:12:22
RECAP
If you’re just tuning in, you unfortunately missed the thrilling moment when Alan Babic successfully halted Steve Robinson’s advance in the sixth round while both were still standing. This intense fight was filled with numerous instances of such intensity.
18:10:51
WE ARE BACK IN BUSINESS
Dulla Mbabe is now making his way to the ring for the first match of the main televised card. Don’t forget to download the Boxing News app and join the prediction league if you haven’t done so already!
17:35:49
SIMPSON UP NEXT
After Alan Babic’s post-fight interview, where Brighton heavyweight Tommy Welch made an appearance and expressed his desire to fight the Savage next, we are now eagerly anticipating the arrival of Barnsley super-middleweight Callum Simpson. He is set to face Tanzania’s Dulla Mbabe in a 10-round bout.
17:26:45
IT’S OVER IN THE SIXTH
The same thought crossed Referee Sean McAvoy’s mind as mine. Robinson didn’t go down, but when Babic relentlessly landed clean punches without any response, he made the decision to intervene. It was an unusual stoppage, but it was undoubtedly in Robinson’s best interest. The official time of the stoppage was 54 seconds into Round 6.
17:25:11
SOME CHIN
Babic lands four or five powerful punches directly on target, yet Robinson remains on his feet. This sight is increasingly difficult to witness, as Robinson shows remarkable resilience by not succumbing.
17:20:31
FOUR DOWN
Babic appears to have caused some damage to Robinson, landing a string of clean right-hand punches. However, Robinson remains unfazed and retaliates with a powerful right hand of his own. We are now entering the fifth round.
17:15:14
AND WE ARE LIVE
Join us for tonight’s ringside live blog from the o2 Arena as Fabio Wardley puts his British heavyweight title on the line against Frazer Clarke in a thrilling showdown.
Hello, I’m Declan Taylor. Apologies for the wifi issues earlier in press row. I will now provide you with the latest updates on the ongoing proceedings.
Kicking off this intense six-fight lineup is the heavyweight bout between Alan Babic and Steve Robinson. As the fight progresses, we have already completed three rounds of this thrilling slugfest.
Fabio Wardley, the current British Heavyweight Champion, is set to face off against Frazer Clarke, an Olympic Bronze Medalist, in a highly anticipated match for multiple heavyweight titles including the British, Commonwealth, WBA Continental, and WBO European. The exciting event will take place at London’s O2 Arena. Fans in the UK can watch the main card live on Sky Sports starting from 6pm. For fans in the US, the action will be available on Peacock, with coverage starting at 1pm ET and 11am PT.
The undercard action on the Sky Sports YouTube channel starts at 5pm in the UK, noon in ET, and 10am in PT.
Wardley vs Clarke Weights and Running Order
12 X 3mins – BRITISH, COMMONWEALTH, WBA CONTINENTAL & WBO EUROPEAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Fabio Wardley weighs in at 243lbs, while Frazer Clarke tips the scale at 266lbs.
10 X 3mins – IBO INTERCONTINENTAL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Florian Marku and Chris Kongo both weigh in at 146lbs.
10 X 3mins – ENGLISH CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
VIDDAL RILEY and MIKAEL LAWAL both weigh in at 198 pounds.
8 X 3mins – LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
BEN WHITTAKER and LEON WILLINGS both weigh 177lbs.
10 X 3mins – SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT
Callum Simpson weighs 167lbs, while Dulla Mbabe weighs 169lbs.
10 X 3mins – HEAVYWEIGHT
The match features Alen Babic, who weighs 217lbs, against Steve Robinson, who weighs 239lbs.