HEAVYWEIGHT contender Fabio Wardley is seemingly inches away from securing his dream night at Portman Road, the home of Premier League football club Ipswich Town.
His potential stadium fight has been mooted for quite some time, with the 30-year-old now revealing a list of opponents that could make his ambition a reality.
It is widely believed that, for his next assignment, the WBA number one-ranked contender will take on Kubrat Pulev, who currently holds the sanctioning body’s ‘regular’ title.
However, while the seasoned veteran is firmly among those on his hit list, Wardley, 18-0-1 (17 KOs), has equally mentioned two other possible dance partners for this summer.
When speaking with Sky Sports, the prolific knockout artist highlighted Jarrell Miller and Michael Hunter – two contenders ranked in the WBA’s top 10 – as worthy opponents.
Miller, of course, is perhaps best known for his multiple failed drug tests ahead of a scuppered clash with Anthony Joshua in 2019.
But since then, ‘Big Baby’ has returned to the heavyweight picture, with many believing that his last result – a draw against Andy Ruiz Jr – should have swung in his favour.
Hunter, meanwhile, has largely been kept in the boxing wilderness, despite representing a stern test for any heavyweight on his day.
In any case, though, it would appear that a clash against Pulev at Portman Road is the top priority for Wardley and his promoter, Queensberry boss Frank Warren.
“He’ll fight a top 10 fighter,” Warren told Sky Sports. “It will be, I hope, at Portman Road. We promised him a homecoming fight in Ipswich and we’ll deliver for him.
“If he comes through [his next fight], he’ll be on the verge of fighting for a world title this year.”
Wardley comes off a stunning first-round finish over Frazer Clarke following their first encounter – an enthralling 12-round dustup – earlier last year.
But now, it seems, the explosive puncher will soon be forced to test himself against a proven, albeit somewhat over the hill, operator.
