Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Following a crushing first-round defeat to Fabio Wardley in their highly anticipated British and Commonwealth heavyweight title rematch, Frazer Clarke has successfully undergone surgery to repair the damage sustained to his cheekbone and jaw. The 32-year-old was knocked out by a powerful right hook early in the fight, leading to a severe injury that left Clarke hospitalized.

Clarke’s injury was confirmed to be a high fracture in his jaw, which required minor surgery. Fortunately, the procedure was successful, and Clarke has already been discharged from the hospital. According to his promoter, Ben Shalom, Clarke is recovering well and is now focusing on his comeback.

Promoter Ben Shalom provided an update on Clarke’s health, stating, “Frazer successfully underwent a minor surgery today. He's feeling well and rested and will head back to the UK this evening to further recover with his family. He’s more motivated than ever to come back bigger and better in the new year.”

Clarke himself has expressed gratitude for the support and well-wishes from fans and vowed to return stronger in 2024. His recovery period is expected to last between six and eight weeks, during which Clarke will rehabilitate and work towards making his return to the ring.

This rematch marked the second meeting between Clarke and Wardley after their thrilling first encounter earlier this year, which ended in a draw. Wardley, keen to prove himself, wasted no time in the rematch, delivering a devastating right hand that effectively ended the fight in the first round. The impact of the punch caused a rare and painful injury to Clarke’s cheekbone, with the side of his face visibly dented from the force.

After his emphatic victory, Wardley sent his best wishes to Clarke, showing respect for his opponent. "I always take a prayer before my fight, always ask for me and my opponent to leave healthy," Wardley shared post-fight. "I hope he's well. I hope I can speak to him afterwards because those first 12 rounds we shared were special."

Wardley is now eyeing the world stage, believing he’s ready to mix it with the top heavyweights in the division. “I’ve got the power to mix it with them all. I can take a shot, and I can have a war. I’m ready for that world stage now,” Wardley declared after the fight, hinting at future title ambitions.

Chief medical officer Neil Scott, from the British Boxing Board of Control, explained that Clarke’s injury is extremely rare in boxing. “It’s not common. We don’t see it that often at all,” Scott told Sky Sports. He described how the cheekbone can be pushed in under significant force, causing a visible dent and affecting the ability to open and close the mouth properly. Scott noted that such injuries are typically caused by heavy objects like bricks, making it all the more remarkable that Wardley’s punch caused this degree of damage.

“It must be a tremendous amount of power to do that,” Scott added, underscoring the sheer force behind Wardley’s punch.

Despite the setback, Frazer Clarke remains determined to return to the ring and prove himself once again. The successful surgery and short recovery time provide a positive outlook for his comeback, and fans can expect Clarke to be back in action next year with renewed focus.