By Charles Brun: In a strange match-up, British heavyweight Frazer Clarke will face 43-year-old Mariusz ‘The Viking’ Wach (36-9, 19 KO’s) today at 2 pm ET at York Hall in London. The Clarke-Wach fight will be shown on Sky Sports and FITE TV.
The 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Clarke, 31, is just starting his professional career, but you would think he would be matched up against a better opponent than this, given his age.
Clarke had been planning on facing Fabio Wardley, but his promoter opted to go in another direction. Unfortunately, Wach is the guy he wanted.
WHAT TIME IS THE CLARKE VS. WACH FIGHT?
- Date: Friday, June 16
- Time: 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 10 p.m. BST / 5 p.m. ET
- The fight will take place at York Hall in London.
- Sky Sports will broadcast the fight in the UK, while FITE TV will broadcast the fight in the U.S.
- The event is set to get underway at 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 10 p.m. BST / 5 p.m. ET. T
With Clarke’s amateur pedigree, it’s disappointing to see his promotional team bring him along so slowly by matching him against the washed 18-year professional. Wach has lost four out of his last five fights and hasn’t won a fight since 2020, when he beat journeyman Kevin Johnsson.
Wach has been around forever, having started his career in 2005 and battled former world champions Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin and lost to them.
“I’m glad that we’re finally able to announce this fight and let people see the kind of challenges I’m looking for,” said Clarke.
“Mariusz Wach is a very tough opponent; his record speaks for itself – look at the names he’s been in there with and the kind of fights he’s had with them. So I hope it’s clear to everyone now that Frazer Clarke isn’t afraid of anyone.”
The 6’7″ Wach has similar power and hand speed as Clarke, but his age and the wear & tear from his long career make him a poor choice. As the saying goes, ‘The last thing to go is power.’
Wach can probably still punch, and if he connects with something big on Clarke’s chin, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him get knocked out. Clarke isn’t exactly the hardest guy to hit; he is so incredibly slow of hand.
Wach is also slow, but he at least has an excuse because of his age. Clarke is still young at 31, and he’s going to have a tough time of it. That could be the reason why his promoter is matching him so weakly.
If this was the 2019 version of Wach that gave an out-of-shape 270+ lb Dillian Whyte massive problems in December 2019, Clarke would be in trouble. Wach punished Whyte in that fight and had him sounding punch drunk after the contest.
Clarke is coming off a second round knockout win over Bogdan Dinu last March. Before that, he had wins over Kevin Espindola, Kamil Sokołowski, and Pencho Tsvetkov.
Caroline Dubois is also on the title trail.
She will attempt to prove her world class credentials in a key step-up against Argentina’s Yanina Lescano on Friday’s show.
Caroline Dubois says a statement win against Yanina Lescano will help progress her and get the big fights as she targets a clash with Mikaela Mayer
“I’m aiming for the top dogs. I’m not going to get there fighting nobodies and people that aren’t going to push me. I’m not going to learn and I’m not going to improve,” Dubois told Sky Sports News.
Lescano is well ranked with world title sanctioning bodies and gave Olympic champion Estelle Mossely a good fight. It’s a significant moment then for Dubois but one the Londoner welcomes.
“When you step in the ring with someone who’s up there, the only way you’re going to beat them is by going above them. Hopefully she comes and brings it, which I’m sure she will,” Dubois said.
“I’m ready to raise my game.”
Anees Taj has drawn Viddal Riley into a rematch, which will also take place on this York Hill bill.
Riley beat him in February but Taj insisted: “It was an inconclusive victory because of the cut.”
If that last bout did leave any unanswered questions, Riley has every intention of settling the issue on Friday. “He’s here again so I’m looking forward to it. After Friday, it will be conclusive,” Riley promised.
“I’m just looking forward to having the most spoken about, anticipated, exciting fight on the night.”
BOXXER Fight Night at York Hall this Friday, June 16th airs live and exclusively on Sky Sports Action from 7pm.
The live undercard stream begins 5pm on the Sky Sports Boxing official YouTube channel.
CLARKE – WACH FIGHT CARD
- Frazer Clarke vs. Mariusz Wach; Heavyweight
- Caroline Dubois vs. Yanina Lescano; Women’s lightweight
- Viddal Riley vs. Anees Taj; Cruiserweight
- Isaac Chamberlain vs. Daniel Bocianski; Cruiserweight
- Aaron McKenna vs. Uisma Lima; Middleweight
- Sam Gilley vs. Ellis Corrie; Light middleweight
- Hassan Azim vs. Ruben Angulo; Welterweight
- Joshua Gustave vs. Remi Scholer; Middleweight
- Roman Fury vs. Erik Nzaryan; Cruiserweight