Fabio Wardley’s gloves are under investigation following his knockout of Frazer Clarke last weekend.
Wardley, whose team has denied any claims of glove tampering, faced Clarke for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles on Saturday. The 29-year-old delivered a devastating first-round right hook, producing one of the year’s most impressive knockouts in their rematch.
Earlier this year, the two had fought to a thrilling draw over 12 rounds. However, the judges weren’t needed in Riyadh, as Wardley’s powerful punches left Clarke collapsing into the ropes. The fight was stopped, and Clarke was taken to the hospital with a suspected fracture high up on his jaw.
Clarke has since undergone a ‘successful’ surgery for his serious facial injury, with his recovery expected to take up to eight weeks. After the bout, Clarke’s team announced they would be investigating the padding of Wardley’s custom Fly gloves. In an interview with BetFred, promoter Ben Shalom confirmed: “Yes, it’s something we’re looking closely at with our team. It’s not just for Frazer’s sake, but because these custom gloves are being introduced, we need to examine how they differ. It’s an ongoing process, but Frazer’s team warned us repeatedly during the week about which gloves could be used.
“It’s no excuse; Frazer lost fair and square, but the damage they might cause needs to be examined. Fabio Wardley’s performance was first-class, but this is something we’ll assess moving forward.” Neil Scott, chief medical officer of the British Boxing Board of Control, noted that Clarke’s injury is rare in the sport. He explained to Sky Sports: “It’s unusual. We don’t often see this type of injury in boxing. Visually, it’s alarming, with a dent on the side of the face. It must be incredibly painful, especially considering the size of the gloves.”
Despite suffering the first loss of his professional career, Clarke has no plans to retire. In an interview with talkSPORT, he said: “At the time, I was devastated, and my pride is still hurt, but the fighter in me knows I’ll come back. It’s going to be a tough journey, but I’ll keep working hard and aim high again.
“I’m 33, but I feel in my prime. That night, it was just a great shot from Fabio and a lapse in my defense. I’m the fittest and most athletic I’ve ever been, so I’m not considering this the end. It’s just a bump in the road.”
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