By Mark Baldwin
With less than two weeks remaining until what could be the most significant fight of his life, Frazer Clarke finds himself busier than ever before. The impending heavyweight clash against Fabio Wardley, a major event in the domestic boxing scene, carries the weight of the British title and possibly even Clarke’s entire career.
Clarke, with a record of 8 wins and no losses (6 by knockout), achieved the remarkable feat of winning an Olympic bronze medal, marking the pinnacle of his amateur career. Throughout his journey, he fearlessly faced off against top-notch boxers, often emerging victorious. On the other hand, Wardley’s path took a different trajectory, lacking the structured training and experience that comes with being a member of Team GBA bronze. He initially started as a white collar fighter and did not engage in any amateur fights. However, despite having only competed in 17 professional matches, many anticipate Wardley to triumph over Clarke, who possesses a more extensive background in the sport. This expectation seems rather disrespectful.
Clarke explains to Boxing News that while he can see where people are coming from, he believes that if he is not prepared for his opponent, then his opponent is not prepared for him either. He acknowledges that his opponent has had more professional fights, but he believes that when considering his experience in the amateurs and in the World Series of Boxing, they are not that far apart. Clarke asserts that he has faced tougher opposition, which gives him more experience. However, he does not pay too much attention to these comparisons anymore and has moved past listening to them. He mentions that everyone thinks he is already defeated before the fight even begins, so he has embraced this mindset and uses it as motivation in his training.
Clarke has previously expressed his disappointment with the lack of recognition he has received since his bronze medal win in Tokyo. Today, he explains, “I may have been a bit naive. It’s not that I crave or expect love. But as an amateur athlete, it feels like nobody really pays attention to you, to be honest. Even though you are representing your country at a high level, it seems like no one really cares. I constantly try to engage with broadcasters to bring more attention to these athletes because they are the heart of the sport. My ongoing conversations revolve around getting these athletes in the spotlight.”
However, as a professional, it simply allows for a flood of criticism. I don’t really mind when people have opinions about my fighting style. It’s the ignorant comments about my appearance or my family that bother me. I don’t share much on social media anymore, but people still leave comments on pictures of my grandparents and children. That was what surprised me the most. But when it comes to boxing, people are entitled to their opinions about me – it’s just something that comes with the territory of the sport.
The fight with Wardley has generated opinion, that’s for sure. The much-publicised purse bid debacle from last year, when Clarke was pulled out of the auction at the 11th hour, left the boxer to face the wrath of critics.
“There was a lack of effective communication among ourselves, management, and the promoter, which is never a good way to start. However, despite this, I still had the desire to fight. It became apparent to me that my management company at the time, 258 MGT, and my promoter, Boxxer, had conflicting agendas. Interestingly, no one informed me about the purse bids, which struck me as unusual. In a meeting with the team, I was essentially informed that this fight was not part of their big plans for me. I felt it was important to cooperate and not jeopardize the support I was receiving. It was a valuable lesson learned from this experience, which I can now share with others as I continue my career.”
Some boxing fans may not show much affection towards him due to his limited experience against only eight professional opponents. It should be acknowledged that Clarke himself has been self-critical and has raised the bar for both his promoter, Ben Shalom, and himself. It is anticipated that we will witness Clarke’s true potential when he encounters a formidable rival whom he considers a genuine challenge.
Clarke admits that it is a terrible trait of his to not push himself beyond first gear when he doesn’t have to. So far, he believes that he could have beaten every opponent he has faced, even on his worst day. He mentions a specific fight with Kamil Sokolowski, where he was not in the best condition due to personal issues and lack of training, but still managed to win because he needed the money. However, the upcoming fight with Fabio is different. Clarke acknowledges that if he has an off day, Fabio has a chance of winning. This realization motivates him and gives him a reason to get out of bed and train.
“I guarantee that you will witness my absolute best in this fight. The key lies in finding the perfect dance partner, and I believe Fabio fits the bill. You can expect to witness a superior version of myself, as I am constantly striving for improvement. I believe I am progressing both as a fighter and as an athlete. While the very best of me may be seen in a few fights down the line, rest assured that you will witness a significant improvement when I face Fabio.”
If Clarke wins the British title in his ninth fight, it will be a new record for the fastest achievement in boxing history. No other boxer has ever become a champion after participating in so few matches. The heavyweight, however, did not approach this goal with haste. He admits, “To be honest, I wasn’t in a rush for it.” Clarke believed that his previous fights against Mariusz Wach and Dave Allen served as gatekeepers, prompting him to consider his next opponent. He thought, “If I wasn’t prepared for a British title after those matches, then when would I ever be ready?” Clarke viewed the British title as the logical next step, emphasizing that Fabio, his upcoming opponent, is still at the British level and not yet surpassing it. Clarke intends to prove this in their fight. He questions Fabio’s potential progression, stating, “Where would he go from this? I don’t think he is ready to jump up to European or world level.”
If Clarke manages to defeat the undefeated and rapidly improving Wardley, it would undoubtedly propel him towards greater achievements. However, Clarke remains grounded and cautious, knowing that he shouldn’t set his sights too high too quickly, despite the potential for his career to soar to new heights with a victory.
Clarke responded, stating that people can easily get carried away with a few victories at the domestic level. He acknowledges that these wins do not automatically qualify him for world title contention. Clarke is fully aware of his own abilities and the areas he needs to improve. He believes that a win would set him on the right path towards gaining more experience through additional fights and longer rounds. This would ultimately enhance his chances of climbing up the rankings. Clarke anticipates that such a victory may also lead to the opportunity of obtaining an interim title or a similar achievement. However, he emphasizes the importance of not rushing or discussing world titles prematurely, especially considering the current fighters who are competing for those titles. Clarke recognizes that there are numerous skilled fighters in that category, and he believes that he still has some distance to cover before reaching their level.
Despite the sting of criticism he has faced, Frazer Clarke recognizes the need to prove himself, perhaps even more importantly to his own self. The bookmakers, known for their accuracy, predict his opponent to have the upper hand. However, there is a chance that fate could once again favor him, making this just another gamble that turns out in his favor.
