Clarke Fighting For His Career In Title Bout - Tkv

Heavyweight Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva said Frazer Clarke is "fighting for his career", while Clarke questioned TKV's erstwhile wounded arsenic they bickered astatine a tense news conference.

They will title nan vacant British heavyweight title astatine Derby's Valliant Arena connected Saturday, to beryllium shown unrecorded connected BBC Two from 20:00 GMT.

The bout was primitively group for 25 October but was postponed aft TKV suffered a rib injury.

Clarke, 34, said nan postponement allowed TKV to "buy much time".

TKV, 32, said conclusion for 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Clarke could people nan opening of nan extremity of his master career.

"I consciousness for illustration I'm fighting to further my career, if anything. After this fight, location are large fights retired there," Clarke replied.

'Big Fraze' famously drew pinch existent WBO world champion Fabio Wardley erstwhile they met for nan British title successful March 2024, earlier Wardley stopped him successful nan first information of their consequent rematch - Clarke's only nonaccomplishment successful 11 pro fights.

Clarke said triumph connected Saturday could group up a trilogy bout pinch Wardley and a changeable astatine a world title.

"If that opportunity arises, ohio my god, I'd return it pinch some hands," Clarke said.

The convention successful Derby ended pinch an aggravated staredown involving 4 information guards.

Tensions roseate again erstwhile TKV stepped successful beforehand of Clarke during nan posed photographs, prompting Clarke to locomotion away.

Although TV and Clarke fought connected societal media successful nan past, some appeared to person moved connected and person spoken astir nan "responsibility" of bringing boxing to free-to-air television. But TKV's withdrawal reignited aged tensions.

Referring to a heated media question and reply earlier this week, TKV said: "He has a persona - he's a bully feline successful beforehand of nan cameras, but down nan scenes he makes cheeky comments."

TKV was peculiarly angered by allegedly being called a "thug".

"Never successful your life explanation maine a thug again. Never explanation maine a wannabe gangster," he said.

"I'm a uni graduate, I'm a family man and I'm a master boxer."

Clarke, from adjacent Burton-upon-Trent, said: "Don't effort to enactment for illustration it then. Why can't I make cheeky comments - are you my dad?"

Londoner TVK responded: "Any young kids from soul cities, don't fto anyone explanation you a thug."

A grinning Clarke past said: "Smartest point you've ever said. Let's springiness him a information of applause."

The fight, which will beryllium shown unrecorded connected BBC Two and iPlayer, marks nan first arena successful a caller business betwixt BBC Sport and Boxxer.

In nan main support, 21-year-old British bantamweight Francesca Hennessy will return connected erstwhile atomweight world champion Fabiana Bytyqi from nan Czech Republic.

Hennessy, who has won each six of her pro bouts and is known for her showmanship and dancing during ringing walks, said she would "shine nether nan lights".

The paper will beryllium nan first boxing arena connected BBC linear tv successful 20 years.

Promoter Ben Shalom said Hennessy could go nan youngest undisputed female world champion successful history, beating 22-year-old Mexican Gabriela Fundora's record.

Hennessey, known arsenic nan Billion Dollar Baby, said: "Pressure makes diamonds. So bring it. I emotion nan pressure."

You tin watch from 18:00 connected BBC iPlayer earlier switching to BBC Two astatine 20:00.

The commentary squad will dwell of Rick Edwards presenting, Ronald McIntosh arsenic nan lead commentator alongside boxing master Steve Bunce, unified super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney and retired world champion George Groves.

From 18:00 connected BBC iPlayer

From 20:00 connected BBC Two

The Clarke and TKV ringwalks are scheduled for 21:00.