Written by Abdi Rashid
09:01 March 31, 2024, updated 10:48 March 31, 2024
- Wardley and Clarke will fight for the heavyweight and commonwealth titles.
- However, half of the rings for the long-awaited match were stolen from the van.
- The battle still continues after a last-ditch effort by event organizers
The highly anticipated title fight between Fraser Clarke and Fabio Wardley was thrown into doubt after a robber stole the ring from a van.
Clarke and Wardley will finally settle their differences at the O2 Arena on Sunday night, with the latter's British and Commonwealth titles on the line.
Like many big matches in the UK, Ringcraft, owned by Mike Goodall, will be setting up the ring for this match.
However, Goodall revealed on social media that a van containing half of the rings was stolen overnight.
He said: “This is the same sprinter who was stolen from a hotel car park in the Canning Town area of London in the early hours of this morning 30/3/24…half of the boxing ring on Sunday night's Sky show Return for Return. It's included,” he posted.
The missing half of the ring was never found, but luckily the show is still set to go on after Goodall reveals he has a replacement.
“Unfortunately he is still missing and has caused us a lot of problems, but we have reached the goal,” he said on Saturday night.
Goodall added: “Good job, I got another ring just like it.”
“So, after all the blood, sweat and tears, once we arrived in London, everything was installed and ready to ring at The O2. The show must go on.''
Clark would like to maintain his undefeated record, but Wardley, who has a record of 16-0, believes the pressure is on his opponent.
“I think he's feeling the pressure of all this,” he declared.
“He's gotten away from that a little bit. I think he used a lot of energy preparing for this game, and he used a lot of energy during game week.”
