BRITISH heavyweight Frazer Clarke says there will be more clarity on his future following the result of purse bids for his British title challenge.
Clarke has been nominated by the British Boxing Board of Control to face Lonsdale belt holder Fabio Wardley before the end of September. Purse bids for the contest are due by noon on Wednesday, May 10.
Clarke had been scheduled to fight on the Adam Azim-Aram Faniian undercard at York Hall on June 10. However, Wardley’s promoter Eddie Hearn questioned such a move. Clarke and Hearn were then spotted having a conversation at the Shavkat Rakihmov-Joe Cordina show in Cardiff last weekend.
In his latest column for Metro, Clarke said: “I had a little chat with Eddie Hearn in Cardiff on Saturday night. Eddie is one of the top promoters in the world, a good businessman. But he is on the other side of the fence to me as far as this fight is concerned.
“There wasn’t too much said. He was asking for some clarity on my June 10 date and I told him that after the purse bids there will be a lot more clarity.
“He told me I shouldn’t fight before I fight for the British title but I told him that’s not the rule; that’s his rule and what he’s trying to impose. In reality, he has nothing to do with me. But it was nothing too heavy, a bit of back and forth a bit of banter too. He said the fight between me and Fabio is 50-50 and I was gobsmacked he could find those words. But it was innocent enough.”
Clarke once again confirmed that he would be happy to step away from fighting on the June 10 card and go straight into the Wardley fight.
“I’m happy to leave it if that’s how things develop. Fabio says he is ready for it next and I am 100 percent ready for it next. I just didn’t see any harm in fighting again beforehand; not just for the sake of fighting but for more rounds.”
The 31-year-old has made a solid but unspectacular start to his career with six fights and six wins under the Boxxer promotional banner.
Given his substantial amateur experience, the 2020 Olympic bronze medallist needs a significant step up in class and fighting Wardley would present that. The British champion won the title in impressive fashion against Nathan Gorman in November 2022 but has yet to make his first defence. The unbeaten 28-year-old fought American Michael Polite Coffee at the beginning of the month and notched up his 16th win with a fourth-round stoppage.
