Talented Ipswich heavyweight Fabio Wardley headlines the first pro boxing in the town for almost 20 years this weekend – and he’s promising he’ll bring it back ‘with a bang’.
Wardley, 23, faces tough Hungarian Ferenc Zsalek in the main event of ‘The Homecoming’ show at the Corn Exchange on Saturday, looking to take his professional record to a perfect 4-0 against a foe with almost 100 career fights.
The exciting puncher has already been tipped as a future British champion, and plans to showcase his skills in front of his hometown fans, on a card packed with up and coming local fistic talent.
- MORE: ‘The Homecoming’ - show preview, fightcard, timings and ticket details
“This is the homecoming for Ipswich boxing and I want to bring it back and end this first show with a bang,” he said. “I’m going to show what I’m all about.
“It’s going to be great, and it’s going to be loud – even when I’m on the road my supporters are loud, but with three or four hundred of them in Ipswich it’s going to be amazing.
“I don’t feel any pressure. I’m just really excited because this is what I wanted when I started boxing, but I didn’t think it would come so soon!
“I’m delighted to be at the forefront of this and holding the torch, but there’s so much talent coming through – it’s great for the sport and it’s great for Ipswich.”
The fight will be Wardley’s first six-rounder in his fledgling career, having won his last two bouts by first round stoppage.
“I never look for an early finish,” he explained. “If the opportunity comes and it’s there then fantastic, but ultimately I’m in there to learn my craft and get experience.
- MORE: Wardley set to bring pro boxing back to Ipswich
“That said, I don’t get paid for overtime so, if the opportunity is there, I’ll take it!”
As part of his preparations, Wardley has even been sparring with undefeated former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, having already tested himself against the likes of Dereck Chisora, Dillian Whyte and Sam Sexton.
And he said sharing the ring for six rounds with the former lineal champ helped him sharpen his weapons even further.
“It was absolutely fantastic,” he said. “He is an absolute gentleman as well, exactly what you see on TV. He was really helpful when we were sparring too, as well as doing his showboating and stuff, but that’s just him.
“It was fantastic, a great experience.”
Of course, Fury returns to the ring next month for the first time since his remarkable victory over former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko almost three years ago – and Wardley is expecting him to be just as good as ever.
“He’s looking great, he’s just as quick on his feet,” he said. “He’s doing everything that he used to do – there’s no ring rust, he’s ready to go.”
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