Fabio Wardley eyes next fight with former heavyweight world champion as he says ‘I’d happily back myself’
FABIO WARDLEY is eyeing a showdown with a former world champion following his destruction of Frazer Clarke.
The Suffolk slugger iced the former doorman in the first round of their Riyadh rematch last weekend to retain the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
Wardley, 29, is now a bonafide player in the division following his desert demolition job of Clarke – who suffered a broken jaw and damaged cheekbone.
And the Ipswich Town superfan is now eyeing some of the big names in the division, including former long-reigning WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder.
When asked about potentially fighting The Bronze Bomber next, he told Box Nation: “I’d happily back myself against him.
“Because ultimately it’s a battle of the bombs and it’s who can land first.
When quizzed about facing either Wilder or Agit Kabayel next, he told The Boxing Show: “Honestly I don’t know.
“It’s not about I want to fight you, it’s about who‘s going to set me up to be in the best position.”
He continued: “Now is the right time to sit with the likes of Frank Warren and my team who have been and put people in world title positions.”
Wilder, 38, is at the tale end of his career having suffered four crushing defeats in his last five outings.
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Retirement has been mooted for the once-devastating knockout artist, although his coach Malik Scott insists he wants to fight again.
Wardley knows he’s now a force to be reckoned with in the division but doesn’t want to get too big for his boots.
And he was brought back down to Earth after arriving home from Riyadh when he was forced to get rid of rotting food in his fridge.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport, he said: “Nothing changes for me.
“Even though my missus and mum keep trying to tell me that things have changed now.
“I went to the same old lunch spot with my old friends on Tuesday that I have been going to for years.
“I even had to run to the Co-Op at about 9pm for bread and milk and bits and bobs that I needed for the house because everything had gone off while I was away.
“Tuesday night was bin day so I was out in the garden wheeling them out, nothing changes.
“I don’t have a butler, I am the same old normal guy and I will be at the football at the weekend and crack on with the lads like I usually do.
“I will keep it like this for as long as humanly possible.”