Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Latest fight reaction, results and official scorecards after epic heavyweight battle
Relive all the action after Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke’s epic heavyweight battle for the British and Commonwealth titles
Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke battled to a hard-fought draw after delivering an incredible fight for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
Wardley defended his titles but suffered immense damage after 12 brutal rounds, including what appeared to be a broken nose, which left blood streaming down his face for the majority of the fight.
A heavy right hand to Clarke in the fifth eventually saw the former Olympian hit the canvas, and he was deducted a point in the seventh round to leave him with a mountain to climb.
But Clarke fought back and salvaged a draw, with one judge awarding him the fight outright 115-112, whileWardley was favoured 114-113 on another. But a third judge was unable to split the fighters with his 113-113 card ensuring a draw.
Re-live updates and see all results from Wardley vs Clarke and the undercard fights, below.
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Leon Willings
Round four
Great right cross from Willings! Whittaker pretends to be wobbled, but he is tagged a few more times after that...
Whittaker looks to slow the pace, jabbing Willings to the body. Stern jab upstairs now.
Lovely step-in left hook by Willings! Clean right cross by Whittaker! Willings really loads up with an overhand right, but Whittaker sidesteps it.
Perfect counter cross by Whittaker, now another. Willings started the round really well, but Whittaker finishes on top.
Whittaker playfully pops Willings again after the bell, and the referee seems to warn him for that...
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Leon Willings
Round three
Whittaker backs up Willings and throws a few hard hooks to the body, before switching targets and battering his opponent to the head.
Some more showboating by Whittaker, but he’s caught with an uppercut. Clean right cross by Whittaker in response, then a hammer of a right hook to the body.
Another clean cross by Whittaker, who is enjoying himself in there.
Willings with a hard right cross then a stiff jab. Whittaker tells Willings’s corner to be quiet, eliciting laughs from the crowd.
Some more dancing from Whittaker, but he is getting caught occasionally when he does that.
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Leon Willings
Round two
Picture-perfect one-two by Willings! It snaps back Whittaker’s head, drawing an “ooo” from the crowd, and even Whittaker pauses to acknowledge the combination.
A good pair of uppercuts by Willings now; each shot is a lead uppercut, with Willings switching stances as he steps in.
Whittaker comes back, though, landing three clean shots upstairs – left, right, left.
Whittaker has Willings backed up to the ropes and is pouring on shots. He withdraws for a moment, then re-engages with a series of jabs.
Nice step-in jab by Willings! He’s having his moments... Good head movement by him, too, as Whittaker fails to land with a few different entries.
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Leon Willings
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Whittaker presses forward early and lands a jab. And two more, these ones aimed at the body.
More body jabs by Whittaker. Willings’s abs are already red. A curled right hook to Willings’s body now, as Whittaker begins an onslaught with his opponent in the corner.
Whittaker backs off, but he steps back in and drops Willings to a knee with a fine combination, with a hybrid left hook-uppercut catching out Willings!
A one-two lands now. Whittaker with his first sign of showboating, hanging his head out in front of his opponent.
Hard right cross to the body by Whittaker, then a left hook, now a right cross upstairs.
Great first round for Whittaker. Lovely head movement as Willings retaliates, then some dancing just before the bell sounds.
Whittaker dances all the way back to his stool.
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Leon Willings
If you had any doubt about Whittaker’s star power, almost everyone on the floor level at the O2 is standing and filming as he emerges for his ring walk.
He’s accompanied by members of the dance group Diversity, and a fair bit of pyro...
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Leon Willings
Next up, Ben Whittaker vs Leon Willings at light-heavyweight!
On the undercard of Joshua Buatsi’s win against Dan Azeez in February, Whittaker went viral for his showboating and slick punching in his victory over Khalid Graidia.
Last year, The Independent spoke to the burgeoning, unbeaten Briton about his Olympic silver medal, his fighting style, and his career in general.
Full interview:
Ben Whittaker on his life-changing moment: ‘I was bleeding and crying’
The Team GB Olympic medalist has gone 4-0 since turning professional in 2022
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Viddal Riley vs Mikael Lawal
Viddal Riley def. Mikael Lawal via unanimous decision (98-92, 99-91, 99-91)
A comfortable title defence for Riley, who stays unbeaten and keeps his English cruiserweight title.
Whille Riley is doing his post-fight interview at ringside, Isaac Chamberlain comes over and starts trading barbs with Riley, before Chev Clarke appears.
All of a sudden, it kicks off! The interview is halted, and security step in.
Riley is eyeing a shot at Chamberlain’s British title, but Chamberlain has a mandatory defence against Clarke on the horizon.
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Viddal Riley vs Mikael Lawal
Round 10
Final round! Lawal is stalking Riley, searching for the finish that he needs.
Riley stays light on his feet, landing a couple of nice counter left hooks.
Right overhand to the head of Lawal, then a left hook to the body, then Riley shoves him away.
Riley makes it safely to the final bell.
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Viddal Riley vs Mikael Lawal
Round nine
Penultimate round. Lawal surely needs a finish. He eats a good right hook.
Riley parries a jab and flicks out a couple of his own. Lawal, again, can only find the arm of the champion with a right cross. And again.
Now it’s Riley coming forward, and he bowls a right overhand at Lawal with a thud. Quickly, Lawal retakes the centre of the ring.
Riley slips a cross attempt by Lawal, to the challenger’s frustration.
A fun exchange ensues to end the round.
Wardley vs Clarke LIVE: Viddal Riley vs Mikael Lawal
Round eight
Nice counter right cross by Riley, stinging Lawal. Now a good jab by the champion, while Lawal mistimes a winging overhand right.
Lawal with a cross onto the arm of Riley, as the champion skips away. Lawal ducks and is hit with a cross to the top of his head.
The cruiserweights tie up, and Riley just about lands a left hook in close. They separate, and Riley peppers Lawal with a combination upstairs.
Right hook to the body of Lawal now, then a jab up top. Again Riley goes to the body, and again.
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