Frazer Clarke undergoes 'successful' operation after loss to Fabio Wardley in British heavyweight title rematch
Frazer Clarke has had a "successful" surgery to fix the injuries to his jaw and cheekbone following his defeat in the first round against Fabio Wardley.
Clarke was taken to the hospital after being rendered unconscious by a powerful right punch in the first round.
Clarke suffered a fracture in the upper part of his jaw, which necessitated a small surgical procedure. He has since been released from the hospital.
"Frazer had a successful minor surgery today," Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom announced on Sunday afternoon. "He’s doing well and is resting. He will be returning to the UK this evening to continue his recovery with his family."
He’s more motivated than ever to return even stronger in the upcoming year. He wants to express his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported him, and we wish him a quick recovery.
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Following his successful defense of the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles in Saturday's rematch, Wardley expressed his well wishes to Clarke now that their competition has come to an end.
"I always say a prayer before my fight, asking for both myself and my opponent to come out safe and healthy," Wardley shared.
"I hope that whoever I'm with is able to return to their family safely. I genuinely wish him well and I look forward to talking to him afterward, as those initial 12 rounds we experienced together were truly memorable."
"I needed to express my thoughts tonight. I value the previous conflict and how incredible it was to witness."
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Clarke is anticipated to take six to eight weeks to recover.
Wardley can focus on what lies ahead for him. He has demonstrated that he is capable of competing at an international level.
"I'm prepared to compete with those guys. I have the strength to go up against each one of them; I can take a challenge and fight back," said the British champion.
"I've shown you all my talents, and I'm prepared to take on the global spotlight now."
Understanding A Rare And Painful Injury
Neil Scott, the main medical officer for the British Boxing Board of Control, mentioned that injuries like the one Clarke experienced are uncommon in boxing and can be very painful.
"It's quite rare. We hardly encounter it," Scott explained to Sky Sports. "It appears quite shocking at first glance, as you notice a significant indentation on the side of someone's face."
This happens because the cheekbone initially protrudes as a slender bone before spreading out to create the noticeable fullness of your cheek. When there's enough pressure, the bone can essentially push inward, leading to the noticeable indentation.
If the bone in that area is pressed inward, it may interfere with your ability to open and close your mouth.
The lower jaw can shift to the other side. If it gets pushed in too far and you attempt to open and close your mouth, it will end up shifting out of alignment.
It must be incredibly painful and undoubtedly very upsetting too.
As a maxillofacial surgeon, I specialize in treating injuries related to the face and jaw. In my work with the NHS, I often encounter cases where these types of injuries result from unexpected sources, like bricks and similar objects. It might sound surprising, but that's often the reality of what I see.
"The dimensions of the glove are something we typically don't observe in boxing."
"It must take an incredible amount of energy to accomplish that. An incredible amount."
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You can watch a replay of Fabio Wardley’s rematch against Frazer Clarke this Sunday at 6pm on Sky Sports Box Office, as part of the exciting Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol event. Don’t miss your chance to book the repeat of Wardley vs Clarke 2 along with Beterbiev vs Bivol right now!
