Olympic super-heavyweight bronze medallist Frazer Clarke will fight on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith bill at the AO Arena in Manchester on January 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office; Chris Kongo will also challenge Ekow Essuman for the British and Commonwealth titles on the undercard
Thursday 5 January 2023 06:18, UK
Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke returns to action on January 21, with Chris Kongo challenging Ekow Essuman for the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles also on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith undercard.
Clarke, the Team GB boxing captain at the Tokyo Olympic Games, is another sterling addition to the big bill at the AO Arena in Manchester.
The heavyweight sensation looks to continue his professional rise on the show that sees Joseph Parker and Richard Riakporhe in action as well as the Eubank Jr vs Smith grudge match, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medal hero is eager to ascend the heavyweight rankings this year and will return to the scene of his last victory.
An opponent will be named in due course but Clarke (4-0, 3 KOs) will be keen to remind the division of his incredible power as he did last November when he outclassed Kamil Sokowlski over six rounds.
"What a great way to start the year for myself. Such a good show, such a good main event," Clarke told Sky Sports News.
"To have Joseph Parker and Richard Riakporhe fighting on the bill, it's a huge card. I'm really looking forward to it.
"Four fights in, I feel like I'm at home now, and I'm starting to really put my foot down and accelerate through this next year, make a statement and hopefully push forward towards a title."
Essuman will defend his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles against Kongo in a scintillating addition to the undercard on Saturday January 21.
"The Engine" produced a comprehensive, unanimous points victory over BOXXER's Samuel Antwi at the same venue last September to retain his titles and protect his flawless record (18-0, 7 KOs).
But he will undoubtedly face a tough test in the form of "2 Slick" Kongo in what promises to be a barnstorming title clash.
Kongo captured the vacant WBC International Silver welterweight crown when he defeated Sebastian Formella last June in London. He'll be hungry to start the New Year in style by putting the first dent on Essuman's burgeoning CV and claiming two prestigious titles.
Another explosive heavyweight prospect is confirmed for January 21 too in Matty Harris. The hard-hitting Coventry fighter (3-0, 2 KOs) burst on the scene in 2021 and last year added two impressive stoppages to his resume, defeating Mait Metsis and Pawel Strykowski. An opponent for Harris will be named soon.
Unbeaten Scottish cruiserweight starlet Scott Forrest (3-0, 3 KOs) will be keen to showcase his talent on the night when he collides with Amine "The Beast" Boucetta (7-5).
BOXXER founder and CEO, Ben Shalom said: "These are four terrific additions to what is already a blockbuster card. Tickets are selling out fast with a bumper crowd all set for an incredible night of boxing in Manchester."
The main event - in association with Wasserman Boxing - sees bitter middleweight enemies Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith face-off in what promises to be an epic domestic clash for the ages with both rivals bidding to take a giant leap towards their desired world title pursuits.
Elsewhere on the stacked pay-per-view card, Richard Riakporhe battles former WBO cruiserweight world champion Krzysztof Głowacki, as local lad Jack Massey steps up to the heavyweight division to fight former world champion Joseph Parker.
Frazer Clarke is ambitious. He wants to advance quickly himself and is eyeing a potential fight with Joseph Parker, who holds an amateur win over him too.
"100 per cent. He's above me at the minute, and he's a former world champion. But if Jack Massey can fight him, then why can't Frazer Clarke?" the Olympic medallist told Sky Sports News.
"If I keep doing what I'm doing, and progressing in the right way, Joe Parker has one over me in the amateurs, and I'd love to get that back one day.
"I've got to work my way up to that level."
To get there, he notes: "It's not just about winning, it's about winning in the right fashion."
"Making a statement, and giving everyone something to come out and enjoy. Times are hard, it's January, everyone's a little bit down from Christmas, come out and enjoy yourself. I'm looking to put on a show," he continued.
"I've been at this a long time, and I've worked really hard. I've been in here [gym] all Christmas at Loughborough University, training, sacrificing, so it's all about pushing forwards for me now.
"I want people to remember my name, and remember my performances."
