Preview: Clarke upgraded to main event after Azim pullout

Heavyweight Frazer Clarke (6-0-0, 5KOs) headlines his first show since turning professional on Friday when he takes on veteran Mariusz Wach (37-9-0, 20KOs) at York Hall.

The card was set to be headlined by super-lightweight prospect Adam Azim before the 20-year-old withdrew earlier this week with a severe hand infection.

Tokyo 2020 Olympian Clarke therefore steps up in the main event with eyes on facing British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley later in the year.

A purse bid was set in May before BOXXER withdrew Clarke at the eleventh hour.

Promoter Ben Shalom later stated it was Clarke’s management 258MGT who lobbied the British Boxing Board of Control for the fight but says he believes Clarke should fight over the ten-round distance before stepping in for titles.

The 31 year old therefore faces the former world title challenger Wach in his seventh pro outing, three months after stopping Bogdan Dinu in two rounds.

Despite having faced the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin in his prime, the 41 year old Wach has lost four of his last six.

Clarke enters the bout an overwhelming favourite two years on from claiming Olympic bronze and hopes the fight to be his final outing before competing for major titles later in 2023.

Clarke was disappointed not to face British champion Wardley in his next fight. *Photo by Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER.*

Fellow Tokyo Olympian Caroline Dubois (6-0-0, 5KOs) also features on the card in her seventh fight at lightweight.

The 22 year old has hit the ground running since turning pro in February last year, already holding five stoppage victories to her name and remains one of the standout prospects in the female code.

Argentina’s Yanina del Carmen Lescano (13-2-0, 4KOs) stands in the away corner this time around as the pair fight over eight rounds.

The South American fought to a ten-round split decision against France’s Estelle Mossley in March 2022.

Dubois looks to land her sixth stoppage against Lescano on Friday. *Photo by Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER.*

Elsewhere on the card, cruiserweights Viddal Riley (8-0-0, 5KOs) and Anees Taj (7-3-0, 5KOs) rematch four months on from their initial encounter.

After four entertaining rounds, the bout was stopped on the advice of the ringside doctor after Taj suffered a deep cut over his right eye from a Riley right hand.

Irish middleweight also Aaron McKenna (16-0-0, 8KOs) takes on Angola’s undefeated Uisma Lima (10-0-0, 8KOs) over ten rounds.

McKenna was initially set to face Shakiel Thompson before the Sheffield fighter withdrew due to a scan issue.

Cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain (14-2-0, 8KOs) also features against Dylan Bregeon (13-3-1, 3KOs).