Fabio Wardley has claimed he is ready for a world heavyweight title shot following his savage first-round destruction of Frazer Clarke, despite his relative lack of experience compared to his global competitors.

Wardley produced a sensational performance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and left Clarke with a sickening grimace and a bump on the side of his face after landing a series of thumping right hand blows on his English rival.

“I’m ready to mix it with these boys. I have the power to mix it with all of them, I can take my chances and I can go to war,” Wardley said after the rapid defense of his British crown.

“You’ve seen me do everything. I’m ready for that world stage now.”

But others are ahead of Wardley in the queue for a world title shot. Fighting Joseph Parker, Martin Bakole, Agit Kabayel, Zhilei Zhang and Anthony Joshua would be a step in the right direction for Wardley, who is ranked No. 8 with two of the world governing bodies and No. 9 with another.

Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KO), 29, from Ipswich, must beat a top 10 opponent to secure a place at one of the world titles, including three (WBC, WBA and WBO) are in the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, who will face Tyson Fury in a rematch on December 21.

Daniel Dubois, who is promoted by Queensberry Promotions like Wardley, is the IBF champion after knocking out Joshua last month.

As stunning as Wardley’s performance was, fighting another top 10 opponent would be a big step up in his class for him. However, as he has shown, Wardley has the firepower to finish experienced boxers like he did with Clarke, who won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics.

Wardley and Clarke went 12 rounds in a thrilling fight last March that ended in a draw, but the rematch ended in one round.

“I took enough evaluation from the first fight to know that I’m successful in this mode of warfare, we just needed to be a little gentler and set it up a little nicer, disguise them a little better” , Wardley said.

“But I can’t help it – war in name, war in nature. Once my enemies are wounded, there is no help for them unless the bell rings.”

Clarke (8-1-1, 6 KOs), 33, reportedly underwent surgery on Sunday for a broken cheekbone, and the defeat is a blow to his hopes of competing in big fights in Saudi Arabia – repairing his cheekbone could be more easy. than to repair his career.

Another English fighter who went to the local hospital was light heavyweight Ben Whittaker (8-0-1, 5 KOs), 27, who was injured when he collapsed over the top rope and exited the ring with his opponent Liam Cameron in a scene reminiscent of WWE.

Whittaker, a Tokyo Games silver medalist, left the ring in a wheelchair, and a rematch appears likely after the fifth-round technical draw.

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn gets closer

Chris Eubank Jr. clashed with Conor Benn in the ring following his predictable seventh-round victory over Kamil Szeremeta, suggesting the English rivals are lined up to face each other in a Riyadh season event .

As Benn is banned from boxing in the UK after testing positive for a banned substance in 2022, Eubank vs. Benn could take place in a Gulf country.

Benn, who has campaigned at welterweight, may also have to move up to middleweight where Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) operates to get the fight he desperately wants, but the clash now appears closer than never to be organized.

Benn (23-0, 14 KO) tested positive for a banned substance in October 2022, leading to the cancellation of a planned fight against Eubank.

The British Boxing Board of Control subsequently banned Benn, who has since fought twice in non-title bouts outside the United Kingdom.

Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, the fathers of Chris Jr. and Conor, had two epic encounters in 1990 and 1993, and the clash between their sons would generate huge interest in the United Kingdom.

Eubank Jr.’s promoter Ben Shalom said last week that the English boxer could face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2025, but it now appears the focus is on the Benn fight, as Eubank suggested in a post on social networks.

Eubank Jr. posted a photo of him confronting Benn on X with the caption: “Guess I’ve got my next bit planned.”

Benn also spoke about the fight on social media, assignment: “I promise I’ll kill this idiot in 3 rounds.”