The most notable update from the recent British Boxing Board of Control circular is the confirmation that Fabio Wardley (17-0-1, 16 KOs) will defend his British heavyweight title against Frazer Clarke (8-0-1, 6 KOs) in a highly anticipated rematch. The two heavyweights delivered an electrifying performance in March that ended in a split draw, making this return bout one of the most awaited in British and Commonwealth Boxing.
Although there’s speculation that this heavyweight clash could be featured on the undercard of the light heavyweight unification bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia on October 12, no official details have been confirmed yet.
The British and Commonwealth Boxing scene has seen a flurry of title changes in recent months, but this circular was relatively quiet, aside from a few noteworthy updates. For example, the junior middleweight title fight between Sam Gilley (17-1, 8 KOs) and Louis Greene (17-4, 11 KOs) is back on the table for purse bids after the Board initially awaited a date and venue from Ben Shalom. Gilley and Greene previously battled for the Commonwealth title last October, with Gilley emerging victorious in a tough fight. The purse bids are set for September 11, with the bout expected to take place by the end of January 2025.
In other news, Commonwealth junior welterweight champion Jack Rafferty (23-0, 14 KOs) will face the unbeaten Henry Turner (13-0, 5 KOs) for the vacant British title at 140 pounds. This intriguing match-up will be featured on the undercard of Nick Ball's WBA featherweight title defense against Ronny Rios in Liverpool on October 5.
The super featherweight division is also heating up, with purse bids announced for a fight between reigning champion Reece Bellotti (19-5, 14 KOs) and the undefeated Michael Gomez Jnr (21-1, 6 KOs). Bellotti has been on a roll, having won the title in February and successfully defended it last month. Gomez Jnr, who is following in the footsteps of his famous father, the former British champion, is eager to claim the title after recovering from an injury.
Jay Harris (21-3, 11 KOs), the British flyweight champion, recently expressed frustration over his lack of activity, but it seems his wait may soon be over. Commonwealth champion Conner Kelsall (12-0, 1 KO) appears to be the most likely opponent, and the British Board has announced that Frank Warren will promote the fight, with a date and venue to be determined. Since Kelsall is also the mandatory challenger for Harris’ European title, this could lead to an exciting triple title showdown.
The rest of the circular provided updates on various weight classes, confirming title defenses and upcoming bouts for British and Commonwealth champions across the board. Notably, Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke will be the headliners, with the date and venue for their rematch to be announced soon. Boxing fans are eagerly awaiting this heavyweight bout, which promises to be another thrilling chapter in British and Commonwealth Boxing history.
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