Ipswich heavyweight prospect Fabio Wardley is taking aim at a Southern Area title shot before the end of the year after winning his third straight fight inside the first round.
Wardley headlined ‘The Homecoming’ show at Ipswich Corn Exchange on Saturday – the first pro boxing show in the town in almost 20 years – having previously promised to finish the show ‘with a bang’.
And he certainly delivered, decking experienced foe Ferenc Zslaek, a veteran of almost 100 fights, in just a minute and 41 seconds.
Wardley said: “The plan wasn’t to go looking for the KO, I was taking my time and having a look at him for the first minute and a half, looking at his style and seeing where the holes were.
“He had a very high and tight guard so shots down the middle weren’t going to work. It was a looping right hand which did the damage, that scrambled his brains and he hit the floor.”
Wardley, who improved his record to 4-0 with three first round stoppages, added: “I can definitely bang, everyone in this division can – one punch can change everything in the heavyweight division.
“I’m not Anthony Joshua, but it’s the punches that you don’t see coming which hurt you.”
Wardley was roared on by a hugely vocal backing at the Corn Exchange, and he said having such noisy home support made it a special evening.
“It was absolutely electric,” he enthused. “When they did the pre-fight announcements I could feel the vibrations through the ring – it went above and beyond what I was expecting.”
Wardley, 23, now hopes to be back in action in Norwich in July as he builds to a title fight towards the end of the year.
“I want to keep busy, keep moving and keep going,” he said. “I’ll probably be out again in July and we’re still on track for the Southern Area (title fight) by the end of the year.
“We want to get the first milestone out of the way, that first belt sorted, and then see where we can go.”
It was a good night too for Ipswich middleweight Ryan Copland, who won his pro debut on points against Paul Cummings.
There were also wins for Colchester’s Connor Vian, Clacton’s Joe Hurn and Dan Azeez and Ray Moylette.
Full results
Ryan Copland beat Paul Cummings on points (39-37)
Dan Azeez beat Jevgenijs Andrejevs by TKO in the first round
Joe Hurn beat Emamanuel Moussinga on points (39-38)
Connor Vian beat MJ Hall on points (60-54)
Ray Moylette beat Jorge Moreno by KO in the seventh round
Fabio Wardley beat Ferenc Zsalek by KO in the first round
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here