Boxing

FABIO WARDLEY got brilliant and brutal revenge on genuine enemy David Adeleye in a vicious desert duel.At the start of September, the launch press conference for the Saudi Arabia extravaganza – headlined by Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou – in London was marred by a brawl between the pair.
Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye locked horns on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Francis NgannouCredit: REUTERS
There was plenty of bad blood going into their internal Battle of BritainCredit: GETTY
Wardley was THE cleaner and more effective puncher throughout the fightCredit: GETTY
The perfectly decent fellas crossed paths on the red carpet and exchanged words, Suffolk puncher Wardley approached Adeleye, 25, and was shoved back.
A member of Adeleye’s entourage got involved and appeared to throw two strikes that floored Wardley, 28, and left him with cuts on his left eyebrow and chin.
The pair buried the hatchet to ensure the bout went ahead and the British Boxing Board of Control let them contest Wardley’s Lonsdale belt in Riyadh, when usually restricted to UK soil.
And Wardley settled the feud once and for all with a magnificent seventh-round stoppage after battering his foe to the floor.
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As chief support to the mega-money bout between Fury and Ngannou in the 20,000-seater stadium right next door, both men understandably made tentative starts.
Wardley’s straight right hand to 26-year-old Adeleye’s body was his best blow.
Ladbroke Grove ace Adeleye lashed back with a lead left hook that was defended well by the Tractor Boy.
At the start of round two Adeleye landed a peach of a jab that snapped 28-year-old Wardley’s head back.
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East Anglian assassin Wardley dropped Adeleye in the seventh roundCredit: GETTY
But when the London challenger tried the same shot moments later, Wardley countered with a sweet right hand and added a second shortly after to take the stanza.
The pair traded left hooks evenly at the start of the third but then Wardley fired off a volley and Adeleye used his forearm as defence and got a warning.
Wardley then luzzed a wild right hand in Adeleye’s direction and when it missed by a mile he looked out into the sky toward Beirut to mock the inaccurate effort.
Wardley was starting to show his 16-0 experience by the fourth and Adeleye needed to use a headlock after shipping a double-jab-right-hand combination that earned the defending champ another session.
By the fifth round Wardley’s crisp, snapping jab was proving the difference.
Adeleye’s lunges impressed the casual crowd but the judges would have known better.
A jubilant Fabio Wardley celebrates with his folksCredit: Getty
There was a thrilling little firefight just before the bell where Adeleye proved his chin for the first time in his 12-0 career.
Adeleye had Wardley buzzed at the start of round six with a chopping left hook but he smothered his work and illegally used his forearm as a ramrod again.
The referee paused the action to give Adeleye another verbal warning and gift Wardley crucial recovery time which he then used and dominated the rest of the round.
And then in the seventh round, Wardley got the sweetish revenge possible by destroying his enemy with a magnificent left hook that folded him dangerously into the ropes.
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Somehow Adeleye beat the count, he even stuck his tongue out and grinned as he climbed back to his feet.
But his mind was a mess and after a few more punches John Latham correctly saved Adeleye from a dangerous pasting.
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TYSON FURY took the opportunity to get 40 winks moments after arriving for his Saudi showdown with Francis Ngannou.The Gyspy King arrived at Riyadh’s Boulevard Hall Stadium with an entourage fit for a Hollywood superstar – not a controversial crossover clash with a former UFC champion.
Tyson Fury cut a joyful figure after arriving for his showdown with Francis NgannouCredit: TNT SPORTS
The Gypsy King decided to have a quick nap moments after arriving in his dressing roomCredit: TNT SPORTS
Fury took the briefest of naps before ushering people out of his changing roomCredit: TNT SPORTS
Fury, 35, cut a cool, calm and collected figure as he sat in the dressing room after being given a POLICE ESCORT to the venue.
And his confidence levels were so through the roof that he decided to take the briefest of naps – despite the slew of people floating around.
Footage of the WBC heavyweight champion’s brief nap quickly went viral on social media, with several fans flocking to X to give their takes on it.
One wrote: “Not surprised with the amount of time in between these fights.”
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Another said: “Can’t take him anywhere.”
The Wythenshawe warrior didn’t conk out for long, quickly rising to his feet before ushering several people out of his changing room.
Fury enters his lucrative Riyadh rumble with MMA man-moutain Ngannou with a historic undisputed bout with Oleksandr Usyk – which is in the pipeline for December 23 – already signed, sealed and delivered.
And the WBC heavyweight champion plans to have a short night at the office to preserve the first heavyweight undisputed bout in over 25 years.
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He said: “I have been working with SugarHill [Steward to knock him out cold on Saturday night.
“I have no doubt in my mind that I will knock him out,” he said.
“He is a big strong guy. Obviously he has got a good punch, powerful – but so am I.
“I’m a big strong guy obviously powerful or else I would not be world heavyweight champion.
“I believe there is levels to the game – and he is going to find out my level on Saturday night.” More