Frazer Clarke could challenge British champ Fabio Wardley this March
Undefeated heavyweight Frazer Clarke (8-0, 6KO) is focused on lining up a British heavyweight title fight with reigning titleholder Fabio Wardley (17-0, 16KO) for March of this year.
But he also hopes that could lead him to renewing an old rivalry with amateur opponent Joe Joyce later in the year.
32-year-old Clarke is on course to challenge champion Wardley for the British championship, with the fight date potentially set for March.
"I think with conversations that I've had over the last few weeks, it's almost sorted," he told Sky Sports this week, although, "I don't take much for granted till it's done." he added.
"That's the fight I want. I presume it's the fight that Fabio wants. I think it's the fight that makes sense for both our careers."
The Olympic bronze medallist had been targeting a shot at Wardley's Lonsdale belt fir quite some time already despite only being eight bouts into his pro career.
"I think it'll be a great show for the fans. I'm relishing the chance to really, properly put my name on the map a little bit and hopefully perform better than I've performed so far and show people what I'm really about.
"As of yet, I've not really had that standout performance that makes people stand up and think he's a serious force to be reckoned with. But I know where I'm at," the Burton heavyweight said. "There's a lot of questions going into this fight.
"I'm not sure he's as good as he thinks he is and the people around him think he is. But he's very impressive to say the least and so far so good in what he's done," he continued.
"This is a fight of two men that I think want to prove each other wrong."
The Burton-on-Trent boxer has other as rivals in the pro ranks. He endured a ferocious rivalry with Joe Joyce in the amateurs, which saw them engage in a number of thrilling contests.
But Clarke is determined to finally get a win over him.
"The man in me, the fighter in me, it is what it is. Would I love to trade leather with him again? It would be an honour. It's a difficult night's work for anyone in the world. But I'd definitely do it," he said.
"He's 4-0 against me. One, I had a swollen eye so it got stopped. I lost the other two fair and square," Clarke added. "I lost two of them on points but one of them I think I definitely won it.
"I definitely want to concentrate on Fabio, Joe Joyce is a totally different kettle of fish for me. Due to the way he lost to [Zhilei] Zhang I feel like there's been some unfair criticism of him. I think he's still a very good capable fighter."
Beating Wardley to become the British heavyweight champion could place him closer to Joyce, who is operating at a far highler level for a fight with Frazer to make any sense right now.
"I respect Joe's position. I know where he's at," Clarke admitted.
"He's probably not looking backwards at me as of yet but how the next fight goes and who that's with, which I'm hoping is Fabio, it leaves me in position potentially to have a massive domestic fight with Joe Joyce."