Coming to terms with a first career loss is never easy—it’s a challenge that Olympic bronze medalist Frazer Clarke is facing now—and it hasn’t been easy. The 33-year-old Brit suffered a devastating first-round knockout loss at the hands of Fabio Wardley earlier this month in Riyadh. Following their initial fight in March, their rematch had quite the buzz around it. 

However, the British and Commonwealth heavyweight title rematch ended just as quickly as it started. Wardley landed a series of massive right hands, shocking Clarke, who ended up with a broken cheekbone and his jaw wired shut. Pictures post-fight showed the extent of Clarke’s injuries with a swollen face and a severely misaligned jaw. 

Despite everything, the Staffordshire native appeared to be in high spirits during a recent interview with Sky Sports. “I’m good… recovering well… A difficult night for me, a difficult few weeks definitely. As a fighter, as a human, but I’m recovering well and looking positive now. Sort of out of the dumps and looking forward to the future now,” Clarke said.

When the reporter probed him about how he was processing his loss, Clarke “First and foremost” credited Wardley for his performance. Meanwhile, he then elaborated on his own journey of coming to terms with the defeat. “It’s been very difficult and I’m not one for making excuses and never will,” Clarke told Sky Sports.

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“I’ve got to put it down to a great performance by Fabio and maybe a little bit of a slow start from me and just heavyweight boxing. I got hit with a shot and then… it was really difficult to recover.” Clarke claimed he was in the best mental and physical shape of his life and felt completely ready for the bout, but then he added, “It was just like in a second it was over.”

However, Clarke has promised this would not be the end for him.

Frazer Clarke claims this will be the making of him

Back on October 24th, Clarke turned to social media to address his fans and reveal that he was not about to give up after his first career loss. “This will not be the end of me,” Clarke declared. “This will actually be the making of me. I put so much work into that camp – so much work into that fight – I was heavily invested, but that’s heavyweight boxing for you.”

He attributed the loss to a brief lapse in concentration, but quickly turned the spotlight back on Wardley, congratulating him for an impressive performance. Clarke expressed gratitude to his supporters and the medical team in Saudi Arabia, admitting, “I’m still gutted, but this week we’re gonna try and pick ourselves up.”

It appears despite what seems like the worst fight of his career, Frazer Clarke is recovering well from his loss and even his injuries. It would be interesting to see how the 33-year-old bounces back. What are your thoughts on Clarke’s injuries?