FABIO WARDLEY survived a sickening broken nose to cling on to his British heavyweight title from Frazer Clarke with a blood-soaked draw.
The 29-year-old Ipswich ace spewed blood for most of the fight but still dropped the 2020 Olympic bronze winner.
ReutersFabio Wardley suffered a suspected horror broken nose[/caption]
PABut the Ipswich fan managed to survive a doctor’s review[/caption]
GettyThe slug-fest ended in a draw in one of the fights of the year so far[/caption]
And after Clarke, 32, had a point deducted for two low blows, the judges scored the sensational bout: 114-113 Wardley, 115-112 Clarke and 113-113.
The pair swapped evenly matched jabs from the start but a right hand from 19st Burton-on-Trent behemoth Clarke looked close to ending it early.
Wardley somehow swallowed the biggest booming right hand of his career but his nose appeared to change shape from the blow.
And he suffered much more jabs after that potentially career-changing hit.
Wardley made a brilliant start to the second, peppering Clarke with shots from both hands, until an uppercut staggered him and changed the course again.
Clarke was in the best shape of his career and was producing elite boxing. And Wardley was already at the well, digging deep and trying to find a way around – or straight through – this mountain of a man.
Wardley’s bashed nose was leaking blood by the third and his skull was shaken by another Clarke right hand.
But the game champion bit down on his gumshield and battled back with looping right hands and hooks to Clarke’s body.
PAThe ring was covered in blood by the end of the match[/caption]
ReutersThe draw sees Wardley retain his belts[/caption]
ReutersClarke was down in the fifth but managed to hang on bravely[/caption]
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Round five was magnificent as Wardley, with his broken nose oozing blood and making it hard to breathe, suffocated Clarke with pressure and punches and folded him down into the deck.
Incredibly the giant beat the count, heard the bell and came out swinging for the sixth.
Clarke landed a second low blow in the seventh that gave us all a much-needed breather – but cost him a potentially crucial point.
And he was hurt by another right hand at the start of the eighth but rallied heroically again to whack Wardley with a shot that shattered his nose once and for all.
Wardley was spitting out mouthfuls of his own claret by the ninth, even Clarke’s huge shaven head was coated in it.
The doctor was called up in the tenth and ordered to check the disfigured nose and he let it continue.
Clarke was then hurt but spat out his gumshield to get a brief rest and right on the bell – after another three-minute war – Wardley smacked the mouthpiece out again as Clarke gasped for air.
Wardley looked like a car crash victim – almost unrecognisable – by the end of the 11th but he was still swinging and hurting Clarke and grabbing late rounds.
And these two heroes were still somehow standing and slugging it out at the final bell. And everybody climbed to their feet to honour them and wait for the decision.
PUNCH STATS
Here’s how the boxers matched up…
Wardley Clarke
Total Punches 476 469
Punches Landed 151 157
% Punches Landed 32% 34%
Source: Compubox
ReutersClarke was spent by the end after giving everything – don’t be surprised if we see a rematch[/caption]
Speaking after the war, Clarke said: “We didn’t bring the title back to the dressing room, so we are a little bit down and gutted.
“I felt I did enough to win it, even though he had a few good attacks.
“I hope he wants to run it back.
“If it was as much of a classic as the fans seem to he saying, then the fans deserve to see it again.”
“}]]