Fabio Wardley capable of ‘miraculous’ knockout win against Oleksandr Usyk, says British heavyweight Solomon Dacres

Fabio Wardley is now the mandatory challenger for the WBO title that Oleksandr Usyk holds; Usyk is a brilliant undisputed champion but British heavyweight Solomon Dacres does not rule out Wardley as a threat even to Usyk; Dacres is targeting his “historic roadblock” Frazer Clarke

 

 

Fabio Wardley could be a threat to any heavyweight, including Oleksandr Usyk, says previous English title-holder Solomon Dacres.

In his last three fights Wardley has taken consecutive knockout victories over Frazer Clarke, Justis Huni and most recently Joseph Parker.

 

 

Those results have installed the Ipswich heavyweight as the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title, which undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk holds.

Wardley, who scarcely had an amateur career after starting out as a white-collar boxer, would be a significant underdog against Usyk, an Olympic gold medallist in addition to being a two-weight undisputed champion.

But Dacres, a former English heavyweight champion who has sparred Wardley, told Sky Sports: “No one’s done it to Usyk, none of the unified champions, he’s done it back to back against these champions, you can’t ever go against him.”

But he did not entirely rule out a Wardley knockout victory. “If it did happen it would be something miraculous. And, you know what, it could happen. Never say never. Never say never, honestly,” Dacres said.

“You can’t doubt anyone, especially in heavyweight boxing. You never know what’s going to happen.”

He added: “I thought Joe Parker would dominate and finish the job. That’s what I thought going in. I rated Joe Parker, it’s only right that I’ve got to give Fabio Wardley the ratings because he has beaten him.

“He is a dangerous opponent, that you can never be too comfortable in there against.”

“It does make you believe in yourself.”

His next target is Frazer Clarke, an old sparring partner of his from the GB squad.

“He’s always been the No 1. I got on to GB, you could say he stopped me from going to the Olympics as well,” Dacres said of Clarke.

“It was like a roadblock. He blocked my path to the Olympics the same way that Joe Joyce blocked his path to the Olympics.

 

 

“I’m sure he’s made a lot more money than me based off going to those Olympics. I’m sure I could have been an Olympic medallist in the same time frame. It would be very satisfying to get that historic roadblock buried!”