Frazer Clarke is aiming to make it third time lucky when he bids for the vacant British heavyweight title against Jeamie TKV on Saturday night.
Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Clarke (9-1-1, 7 KOs) challenged Fabio Wardley for the Lonsdale belt in March 2024, climbing off the canvas in round five to box to a thrilling split-decision draw.
In the rematch in October last year, the 34-year-old was obliterated inside a round as Wardley scored a sickening knockout.
Clarke recouped with a win of his own inside the first session against Ebenezer Tetteh in April, while Wardley has been elevated to the status of WBO world champion following his thrilling victory over Joseph Parker last month.
"I think in a weird way, Fabio is now part of the inspiration. Look where he's gone in a few fights. He's gone from me fighting him and he's now the WBO world champion, so he's definitely sort of ignited the fire," Clarke told Ring Magazine. "It can happen. It takes a few fights."
TKV (8-2, 5 KOs), real name Tshikeva, trains alongside Wardley and went down to another of his gym-mate's victims, David Adeleye, when he boxed for the vacant British title last time out. But the ending of the bout in the sixth round was laced with controversy, as TKV was decked by an Adeleye left hook after the referee called break.
A knockdown was called and Tshikeva was beaten when he failed to recover from a follow-up assault. The British Boxing Board of Control called an instant rematch, but Adeleye's decision to take on Filip Hrgovic means TKV now faces Clarke for the title.
The heavyweight showdown will be shown free-to-air in the UK on BBC Two — the first time the national broadcaster has shown live championship boxing for more than two decades. The Boxxer-promoted card also features one of female boxing's rising British stars and a former world-title challenger plotting his next assault on honours.
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Frazer Clarke vs. Jeamie TKV undercard
Here's a breakdown of the main card action on the Clarke vs. TKV bill.
Bobby Dalton vs. Joel Kodua
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Dalton record: 11-0
- Roldan record: 9-0
- Belts at stake: English welterweight title
A level down from British title, Dalton makes the second defence of his English welterweight belt against the similarly undefeated Kodua.
Both men have only two KOs apiece on their records, so expect this back-and-forth to go the 10-round distance.
Francesca Hennessy vs. Fabiana Bytyqi
- Division/Weight: Bantamweight
- Hennessy record: 6-0
- Bytyqi record: 22-2-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
The stylish, skilful Hennessy gets a step up in her seventh professional contest.
Bytiqi is a former WBC world champion at atom weight but dropped a wide unanimous decision to Seren Cetin in her first bout as a fully fledged bantamweight in September.
Bradley Goldsmith vs. Jordan Dujon
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Goldsmith record: 13-1
- Dujon record: 10-5
- Belts at stake: N/A
Former amateur standout Goldsmith bounced back from the first defeat of his career to Troy Coleman in April with a first-round KO of the undefeated Rogers Ssenyondo.
Dujon has lost three of his past four, so it's fair to expect the rebuild job to continue.
Jack Massey vs. Ivan Gabriel Garcia
- Division/Weight: Cruiserweight
- Massey record: 22-3
- Garcia record: 10-4-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Massey returns to action in a six-rounder, boxing for the first time since a six-round defeat to the lavishly gifted IBF champion Jai Opetaia.
'One Smack's other two career losses have come against Richard Riakporhe and Joseph Parker, suggesting he only falls short in elite company.
Argentine foe Garcia has lost three of his past four and been stopped in the most recent two, so he comes up some way shy of that standard.
Frazer Clarke vs. Jeamie TKV tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, November 29
- Start time: 6 p.m.
- Main event start time (approx.): 10 p.m.
- Location: Vaillant Live, Derby
- Live Stream: BBC iPlayer
- TV: BBC Two (from 8 p.m)
Frazer Clarke vs. Jeamie TKV will be available free to air in the UK via BBC.
The undercard action will be available to stream live from 6 p.m., while the main card will be available to terrestrial television viewers on BBC Two from 8 p.m.