Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Fabio Wardley made a clear statement by stopping Frazer Clarke in the first round with a crushing right hand that left Clarke unable to continue. Coming into the fight, many had predicted a closely contested battle, but Wardley had other plans. From the outset, Wardley quickly took control, landing a big right hand early that rocked Clarke and forced him into the ropes.

Though Clarke initially tried to regroup, Wardley’s relentless pressure proved too much. After taking a few shots of his own, Wardley landed a powerful left hook, followed by another devastating right hand that sent Clarke into the ropes once again. As Clarke slumped and appeared disoriented, the referee, Victor Loughlin, stepped in and stopped the fight, recognizing that Clarke was in no condition to continue. The stoppage came with just 40 seconds left in the round.

Post-fight, it was revealed by promoter Frank Warren that Clarke had possibly suffered a fractured cheekbone, explaining the noticeable dent on the side of his head. Clarke himself looked dazed and confused following the knockout.

Wardley 18-0-1 (17 KOs), reflected on the victory by acknowledging that he had learned from the mistakes in their first bout, which ended in a draw. “I just needed to set things up better, and I did,” Wardley said, adding, “I wanted to take his head off his shoulders, and I did.”

With this emphatic win, Wardley solidifies his place as a rising force in the heavyweight division. Looking ahead, Wardley has expressed his desire for bigger challenges, including potential matchups with top contenders like Otto Wallin, Jared Anderson, and Murat Gassiev. His future looks bright, and the knockout of Clarke is certain to be one for his highlight reel.

Meanwhile, Clarke, who had hoped to turn the tables in the rematch, faces a tough road ahead after such a brutal defeat. As he recovers from this loss and possible injury, it remains to be seen what the next step in his career will be.