Adam Azim’s abrupt hand injury saw another of Sky’s prospects being promoted to top the bill on short-notice in BOXXER’s York Hall show this coming Friday. As such, I spoke to highly-rated rising heavyweight Frazer Clarke at Oxford Circus on a series of topics as he faces the toughest test of a professional career still in its infancy against former world title challenger Marius Wach this weekend.
Clarke’s challenges will only intensify from here
Frazer Clarke vs. Mariusz Wach
Friday night at York Hall — ringwalks around 10.30pm BST
Live on Sky Sports Action in UK, FITETV in US
- “Any fighter who doesn’t want to win a British title in this country, they’re missing something for me. It’s esteemed in history, I’d love to win it but Fabio [Wardley] isn’t the be all and end all for me,” Clarke’s stance is clear
- 31-year-old has heard suggestions BOXXER will return to Birmingham later this year, or potentially Wolverhampton and hopes he’ll feature more locally before possible Wardley showdown in November-December
- “Boxing is lovely, the business is a bit shady but the sport makes people smile, happy and entertains. There’s nothing I can be more grateful for, than life itself,” Clarke on boxing and having gratitude for life as a whole
Frazer Clarke has been through a whirlwind of emotions recently, as it became painfully clear and awkwardly public knowledge that the British heavyweight title fight against reigning champion Fabio Wardley won’t happen next after all.
Point-scoring between promoters and blaming individuals is immaterial. What matters now is how both now progress on their respective paths forward with a desire to honour the BBBofC’s original wish by the year’s end.
Clarke told me last December that he wanted five fights in 2023, and if things go to plan, Wardley could be the final one. First things first though, he must succeed over ten rounds against former world title challenger Mariusz Wach on Friday night.
Wach (37-9, 20 KOs) is 43 and returns to action just 13 days after a fifth-round knockout win over compatriot Jakub Sosinski, nonetheless representing a welcome change of opponent rather than an overmatched foe in Harry Armstrong (5-1-1).
My recent boxing coverage
Lopez silences critics, outboxes Taylor to seize WBO light-welterweight title
Adeleye seals first WBO European HW title defence, Ahmatovic retires after R5
Artur Beterbiev’s trainer Marc Ramsay: Callum Smith biggest challenge yet
Shields retains undisputed titles with shutout UD hometown win vs. Cornejo
He rightly regards Wach – old or not – as the biggest test of his career, and having sparred him in the past, knows he has a job to do.
“It was disappointing [the Wardley fallout], an inconvenience but we had a new thing to focus on, I’m healthy, happy and here.”
Using the word we, rather than speaking individually, involves members of his team – criticised by many for missteps in communication, whether with BOXXER or lobbying on his behalf to get the Wardley matchup accepted by the board in the first place.
He spoke about how he felt in a bad place and was locked away for ten days, before meeting a guy outside Tesco one night who put things into perspective.
“He was crying with his head in his hands, I asked what’s wrong, he said he had relapsed after three hours out of rehab – not one penny to his name, just a bag of clothes. I thought fuck this, there’s nothing wrong with me, let me go train tomorrow and work hard. That happens in life everyday.”
MO denotes Mosope Ominiyi, FC is Frazer Clarke. These specific interview questions were asked and answered on Wednesday afternoon of fight week
MO: So, how important is it for you to keep perspective on a personal level when things don’t go the way he planned?
FC: Not for me, Mosope, for everyone in life. I don’t wanna preach but this world is a fucked up place, I saw three people got killed in Nottingham yesterday [Tuesday].
Not far from where I train – enjoy your breath, spend time with family and friends, you don’t know when the Lord is calling your name, can be gone at any time.
MO: What were your thoughts on CBS-Okolie? Should Lawrence exercise the rematch clause?
FC: I was happy for CBS, gutted for Lawrence as a friend of mine though. He got it wrong on the night, has to go make some changes! Chris is a hard-working man and deserves to be a world champion, so fair play to him.
FC: Yeah, he’s got to take it definitely. He’ll have a few options – you know how it is – good team around him, head on his shoulders, do what’s best.
The sport doesn’t last forever, we’re here to entertain but at the same time, got to fill up the bank while you can because these people don’t give a shit about you once the time is gone – you’re old news – can’t even get a ticket to come to the show.
We’re here to make bank [money].
MO: How does it feel to headline your first show as a pro, after Adam Azim’s injury withdrawal?
FC: Headline. It feels like a bit of a strong word, I’m just the last one on the card [laughs]. I’ll headline in Birmingham or Burton-upon-Trent, this isn’t my ends. I love fighting in London, sure, but this isn’t that, just top of the bill!
Other tidbits, quotes as Dubois and Chamberlain return
Women’s lightweight contender Caroline Dubois faces the toughest test of her professional career to date against Argentina’s Yanina del Carmen Lescano.
The 27-year-old, rated #3 worldwide at 135lbs on BoxRec, lost a split decision to France’s Estelle Mossely for the IBO world title in March last year but has since made three championship defences of her South American lightweight title.
Irish superstar Katie Taylor still holds all the marbles at lightweight, despite falling short in her attempt to become a two-weight undisputed world champion against Chantelle Cameron late last month.
Mikaela Mayer is her WBC mandatory after a solid but unspectacular win over short-notice opponent Lucy Wildheart the previous month – Dubois has been unequivocal about wanting to fight the former super-featherweight world champion.
While not overlooking the size of the task ahead against a woman who’s travelled a long way from her south American comforts and ‘is ready to change her life‘, here’s what she told me about the aforementioned two fights atop her division:
on Mayer-Wildheart:
“Look Mosope, yeah it’s very hard when you’re aiming for somebody, then circumstances out of your control mean you have to fight someone who isn’t at that level, isn’t who you expected… But at the same time, this was a lacklustre performance from a former two-belt world champion.
Very lacklustre, credit to Lucy – hasn’t won anything or fought anybody – gave Mikaela a very good fight, made her work for those ten rounds and it was a tough fight but Mayer won almost every round, just a forgettable performance.”
on Taylor-Cameron:
“Katie was beaten by the bigger, more fresher girl. Chantelle was too good, too strong, wanted it bad and you could tell, it was a good performance all-round – I’m happy they could put on a good fight for fans around the world.”
Contrasting cruiserweights
Anees Taj insisted he’ll only need a few little adjustments to solve the Viddal Riley puzzle on Friday night, having had success in spells before their first fight was stopped as the 27-year-old sustained a bad cut over his left eye on February 11.
After saying he’s received messages on social media from members of Riley’s extended family and heard of Riley’s reluctance to take the rematch, Braveheart said he’s relishing a chance to right the wrongs four months later at a famous venue.
“Whether it was him or members of his team, I don’t know, but I was told to get into title contention – he didn’t want it [the rematch]. Higher-ups at Sky did, called it an inconclusive win and he was blowing a little bit.”
Riley said it was natural he wanted to move forward with his career and look towards title-level opportunities after improving to 8-0 as a pro, but believes he’ll make it conclusive this weekend in what has the makings of an all-action cruiserweight duel.
It’s not British champion Mikael Lawal, but Isaac Chamberlain stressed he won’t be overlooking three-time European cruiserweight challenger Dylan Bregeon.
The 29-year-old fought Fabio Turchi and Chris Billam-Smith with contrasting results over a seven-month period in 2021, before former world title challenger Michal Cieslak stopped him for the vacant title in BOXXER’s Poland show on Apr. 22.
Chamberlain looks to make up for missing last month’s Bournemouth show before a long overdue summer holiday, after Lawal withdrew through injury during fight week and stadium-specific time constraints saw a matchup vs. Daniel Bocianski cancelled.
“I can’t find him [Lawal], don’t know where he is… hope he’s there on Friday so we can have a friendly chat, you can expect a great night regardless, just adapt and overcome. I’ve maintained my professionalism – that will pay dividends.”
On the main event at Vitality Stadium on May 27 between two divisional boxers he knows very well having shared the ring with both, and what’s next, he told me:
“That was a crazy fight, very unexpected but a weird one – it was the first time Okolie’s really been tested on his chin, kinda knew they had the perfect gameplan, Chris is good at executing it, it was an amazing fight.
on Okolie’s rematch clause: “He has to take it, for himself, he knows he can beat him – probably done it many times in sparring, so will be thinking how come it didn’t go my way in the fight? Lawrence’s character, that’s just how he is.”
Full card, is as follows
Running order TBC
10 rounds
Heavyweight main event: Frazer Clarke vs. Mariusz Wach
WBC International middleweight title: Aaron McKenna vs. Uisma Lima
8 rounds
Cruiserweight: Viddal Riley vs. Anees Taj
Cruiserweight: Isaac Chamberlain vs. Dylan Bregeon
8 x 2-minute rds: Caroline Dubois vs. Yanina del Carmen Lescano
6 rounds
Light-middleweight: Sam Gilley vs. Ellis Corrie
Welterweight: Hassan Azim vs. Ruben Angulo
Middleweight: Joshua Gustave vs. Remi Scholer
4 rounds
Cruiserweight: Roman Fury vs. Erik Nazaryan
Pictures used expressly captured by me unless credited otherwise
Same applies to quotes from Frazer Clarke, Isaac Chamberlain and Caroline Dubois
Mo and Sports 