Clarke fighting for career in GB title bout – Tshikeva

As they bickered at a tense news conference, heavyweight Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva said Frazer Clarke is “fighting for his career.”

On Saturday, they will battle it out for the vacant British heavyweight title at Derby’s Vaillant Arena, which will be broadcast live on BBC Two starting at 2:00 GMT.

The fight had been scheduled for October 25 but TKV suffered a rib injury, so it was postponed.

The delay gave TKV the ability to “buy more time,” Clarke, 34, claimed.

“I feel like I’m fighting, if anything, to advance my career. There will be significant fights following this one,” Clarke retorted.

When the two men met for the British title in March of 2024, “Big Fraze” and current WBO champion Fabio Wardley squared off against each other in the first round of their follow-up rematch, which Clarke only lost to in 11 professional fights.

A victory over Wardley on Saturday, according to Clarke, could give them a chance to fight in a trilogy.

“Oh my god, I’d take that opportunity with both hands,” Clarke said.

Four security guards were involved in an intense staredown that ended the conference in Derby.

Although TV and Clarke previously had verbal altercations on social media, they both appeared to have moved on and discussed the “responsibility” of bringing boxing to free-to-air television. However, the withdrawal of TKV rekindled previous tensions.

In response to a contentious media interview earlier this week, TKV claimed that “he has a persona – he’s a good guy in front of the cameras, but he makes cheeky comments behind the scenes.”

TKV’s alleged retribution for being a “thug” angered him particularly.

Never again do you refer to me as a thug in your life. Never refer to him as a liar.

“I’m a professional boxer, a family man, and a Uni graduate.”

Don’t try to act like it then, Clarke, a resident of Burton-upon-Trent, said. Why can’t I joke about my father, “Are you my dad?”?

Don’t let anyone label you a thug, Londoner TVK retorted, “Any young children from inner cities, don’t let anyone call you a thug.”

The fight is the first instance of a new partnership between Boxxer and BBC Sport, which will be broadcast live on BBC Two and iPlayer.

French international champion and former world champion atomweight Fabiana Bytyqi from the Czech Republic will be Francesca Hennessy’s main opponent.

Hennessy, who has won all six of her professional fights and is renowned for her showmanship and dancing during ring walks, declared that she would “shine under the lights.”

In 20 years, BBC Linear will be broadcasting a boxing match on the card.

Hennessy could surpass Gabriela Fundora’s record, which was broken by 22-year-old Mexican Gabriela Fundora, according to promoter Ben Shalom.

On BBC iPlayer, you can watch until 18:00 before switching to BBC Two at 20:00.

The Clarke and TKV ringwalks are scheduled for 2:00 PM.

Rick Edwards will serve as the commentary panel’s presenter, Ronald McIntosh will serve as the lead commentator, and former world champion George Groves, a boxing legend, and unified super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney.

On BBC iPlayer starting at 18:00

From 20: 00 on BBC Two