In his latest column, former Olympian and heavyweight contender Frazer Clarke speaks out on his brutal defeat to Fabio Wardley and lays out his plans to return to boxing stronger and hungrier than ever.
It has been a difficult period for me since that night against Fabio Wardley. Any fighter with any pride who has to go through what happened will know, it is not easy.
But I’m not someone to hide away. I had a few weeks in the dark. I was a bit upset, maybe a little bit embarrassed. But physically and mentally, I am okay. I am surrounded by good people and I’m a tough man. I’ve had to take it and move forward and I’m already plotting my return to the boxing ring.
I have a great team behind me at BOXXER and Sky Sports. Even at this point, there are already conversations happening over what is next. There are still big fights out there for me. Taking a loss like that can be really scary in terms of your career and that would be the case with a lot of fighters. But I’m positive there are huge nights still ahead of me.
My possible return date
I was given a strict recovery programme from surgeons and doctors. Not to sleep on that side of my face, no impact. I have a two-year-old son who loves jumping all over me so it’s been difficult. There are so many little things you have to be careful of. But a month later I am in a great place, I have done everything by the book.
I’ve done a few runs, I’ve been in the gym doing a few bits but of course I’m leaving the punching alone – no doubt as soon as I am back to that, it gets full-on quite quickly. So I will avoid that for a bit but I am keeping myself fit and ready. I am always excited about the future and even more so now.
I have got to keep myself fit and healthy going into the New Year and March or April would be the perfect time for me to return. We still have a few things to get passed off by different doctors but once that is done we will have a clearer indication of when I will be able to fight again. The main thing is my health. But I heal well, I live right and I have that hunger. March or April would be great.
My take on the gloves story
I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t want to be in Fabio Wardley’s position right now. I got hit with a big shot. I still haven’t watched it back. The last thing I remember is being the wrong way around, facing out from the ring, I turned back around into a big shot and that’s all she wrote.
It was a strange first round for me. I would rather it happen the way it did than happening in a close fight and to lose that way down the stretch. Does it prove he is the better fight? It proved he had a really good night, a better one than me, and hit the lottery. But all I can say to Fabio is fair play and congratulations, he took his opportunity and put me right on my arse.
The week after the fight, there was some talk over the gloves Fabio used. At that point on fight night, I was away from everything, I had no idea what was going on.
I have heard a few whispers but what I will say is, there was a small conversation in the rules meeting about the gloves beforehand. But at that point I am already in fight mode. That’s where my head was at. So there was a conversation I wasn’t involved in it, it was between my trainer, manager and Robert Smith of the British Boxing Board of Control. So I haven’t got too much to say about it.
Most importantly, I’m not a sore loser, I am not going to sit here and cry over what happened. I should have defended the shot. It is what it is.
Fabio is probably done with me – but never say never
I’m a realist. Given the way Fabio won, I wouldn’t be surprised if that chapter between me and him is now closed for good. I was taken out. So he probably thinks it’s over.
But the first fight did so much for us both. The second was a devastating stoppage which is drama in itself. I do think there could still be demand for a third fight down the line. A lot of people thought I won the first fight.
Boxing is a funny old game and if we cross paths again, I am 100 per cent positive the result will be different. So never say never.
Recovery going well – no lingering concerns for the future
Immediately after the fight I underwent jaw and cheekbone surgery which went very well, I had the best doctors looking after me and they got onto me really quick which has been really good for recovery. That’s what I needed to get back in the ring as soon as possible. There are no wires, no plates needed which can usually be the case with this type of injury. So I’m grateful for that. There is nothing lingering that concerns me.
I have been in this game a long time. Injuries are nothing new. I remember back in 2014 I also cracked a cheekbone in an ABA final against Joe Joyce so this isn’t the first time something like that has happened. It is part of the game.
Don’t get me wrong, it was devastating and I never wanted that to happen to me. But I have to move on from it. This sort of thing can either make you or break you.
My body has been through the mill and I have had a hard career. But as long as you manage it properly and keep believing and improving, you come back. You need to still have the hunger which I’ve got in abundance. This certainly isn’t the end for me.