Sunday’s Boxing Tips:
Clarke Points or Decision
Kongo Points or Decision
Whittaker To Win the Fight in Round 5 – 6
Riley Points or Decision
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Forget the opulence of Saudi Arabia, and even the glitz of the Las Vegas strip, this Easter Sunday the boxing is at the O2 Arena in London. The headline fight is the heavyweight grudge match between British champ Fabio Wardley and Olympic medallist Frazer Clarke, and on the undercard Florian Marku meets Chris Kongo, Ben Whittaker faces Leon Willings, and Viddal Riley boxes Mikael Lawal.
FABIO WARDLEY V FRAZER CLARKE – CLARKE POINTS OR DECISION
10pm
TV: Sky Sports
This is a bout with a backstory. With a schooling in white collar boxing, Wardley was boxing on dinner shows in front of mates and colleagues while Clarke was winning Olympic medals and captaining the British team. But it’s Wardley who won the British heavyweight title in 2022 and defended it in 2023, and it’s Wardley that has been made the favourite by the odds compilers.
If you look at Big Fraze’s amateur record you’ll see he’s faced the top tier boxers already – Joe Joyce, Otto Wallin, Joseph Parker, Tony Yoka, and he sparred with Anthony Joshua for years. But as a pro, Clarke has failed to set the world alight – his record reads eight wins from eight bouts, including six stoppage victories, but against the most recognisable names on his ledger, Mariusz Wach and David Allen, he’s looked laboured.
Wardley, in stark comparison, has looked dynamic, aggressive and destructive. The Ipswich banger has had 17 pro contests and stopped every opponent except in his debut. The best wins were over David Adeleye and Nathan Gorman, but Adeleye was unproven and Gorman was out-of-shape and unmotivated – I think Wardley might be getting a bit more credit than he deserves for those wins.
There’s no doubt Wardley, 29, can crack but he hasn’t developed a great defence during his short career in boxing. Clarke, 32, is strong but he doesn’t have the speed that creates real power. There isn’t much to pick between the two, and based on recent performances I can see why Wardley is the favourite.
Neither man has been 12 rounds before so it’s unknown how either will fare down the stretch, but one thing I am sure of is that this is by far the fittest version of Clarke we’ve seen. He has admitted he’s lacked motivation for other opponents but he looks lean and mean, and I am backing him to land more clean punches and win on points.
FLORIAN MARKU V CHRIS KONGO – KONGO POINTS OR DECISION
9pm
Marku versus Kongo has been simmering for a while – the Britain-based Albanian has talked a big game without doing much inside the ring, and Chris called him out on it. Marku has the fanbase and momentum, and he’s the A-side, but Kongo has been in against European-level opponents like Ekow Essuman and Michael McKinson, and, although he lost, he’s shown he’s very close to that level.
If you look past Marku’s brooding demeanour and the couple of highlight reel knockouts against English Area-level opponents, there’s a split-decision win over unremarkable and unknown Maxim Prodan and a draw with journeyman Jamie Stewart. If an opponent is willing to match Marku’s desire the favourite can be beaten, and Kongo is a big, strong, determined welterweight in his prime.
The thing that should give Florian fans some encouragement is that he has a very good team around him and they rarely get things wrong. Kongo is known to be tight at the weight and he has gassed a bit in previous scraps, but over 10 rounds I think he’ll be ok. Marku has been dropped by a couple of opponents but Kongo only has one KO win in his last seven bouts, so I am backing ‘2Slick’ to win on points.
BEN WHITTAKER V LEON WILLINGS – WHITTAKER TO WIN THE FIGHT IN ROUND 5-6
8pm
The talent of Whittaker is clear to see but if you think he’s just a showman he’s got the Olympic silver medal to prove that he isn’t. Willings has won seven of his eight professional contests but he has no noteworthy amateur experience, and with only two KO wins I don’t think he has the tools to cause ‘The Surgeon’ any problems.
This is a massive opportunity for Willings to upset the light heavyweight prodigy, but that ambition could get him into trouble, and I’d be shocked if Whittaker doesn’t win inside the distance. Ben’s last three fights have ended with KO wins in rounds 8, 4 and 5, so I’m taking advantage of the generous price on a Whittaker win in rounds 5-6.
VIDDAL RILEY V MIKAEL LAWAL – RILEY POINTS OR DECISION
7pm
Riley is another talented prospect but Lawal has been British cruiserweight champ and faced the quality Isaac Chamberlain. Lawal’s issue is that he doesn’t set up his power shots well, and I think Riley has the footwork and skills to negate anything his more experienced foe does. I’m picking Riley to win by decision.
Sunday’s Boxing Tips:
Clarke Points or Decision
Kongo Points or Decision
Whittaker To Win the Fight in Round 5 – 6
Riley Points or Decision
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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