Frustrated Clarke Ready For Saturday
A frustrated Lennox Clarke is ready to take the next step in his career but will have to wait a little longer for his highly-anticipated English Super Middleweight Title bout. The unbeaten 26-year-old was set to fight Leicester’s Darryl Williams for the belt on the undercard of Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO Middleweight title defence against Martin Murray on April 14th at London’s O2 Arena.
But a hand injury suffered by Superb in training has put that card back to June 23rd, leaving Clarke - who has been chasing a fight for the title for nearly a year - frustrated again. Last year, Williams announced his retirement from boxing before un-retiring in January, when the fight was confirmed. Now, Clarke will prepare for his date in destiny in June by taking on Nicaraguan fighter Wilmer
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Gonzalez over six rounds on BCB Promotions’ “At The Double” show at Walsall Town Hall on April 21st, sponsored by Grosvenor Casino Walsall.
“It’s nothing to do with Darryll but it’s massively frustrating,” Clarke said of the delay to the fight which will see two unbeaten fighters go hand-to-hand. “Billy Joe injured his hand and that’s why it was postponed.
“Darryl is just another stepping stone in my career and it’s holding me back. “It’s been going on 10 months and that’s a long time to be thinking about one opponent. “It’s a massive fight and it’s going to be on a big stage which will give me massive exposure. That’s what I need now.
“I want to be highly-ranked by the end of this year so if I’m wasting time now it’s prolonging me from getting where I want to be.
“It’s nothing against Darryll himself. Even though I don’t like him I haven’t really got anything against him, aside from his attitude and how he comes across. “It’s purely about the title and about me getting that title. I wasn’t bothered about him retiring because I’m still in the position I’m in.
“Whether I beat Darryll for it or I beat someone else for it, I’m not bothered as long as I get it.” In the meantime, Clarke is focusing on beating Gonzalez over six rounds at Walsall Town Hall and putting on a show for those in attendance.
“I’m always motivated for all fights, and I train hard all the time,” said a matter-of-fact Clarke.
“I train hard and train smart - I’m always on it, always focused and always switched on, whether it’s Darryl or Gonzalez. “I’m doing good in sparring and I’ve had better sparring than Gonzalez.
“I just know I’m going to smash him up. He’s lost 10 fights, he’s not at my level but you can’t overlook anyone. I’m already in top shape so when Gonzalez comes in, he’s getting smashed up.”
Tickets, priced at £40 standard unreserved and £80 VIP Ringside, are on sale now from the Walsall Town Hall Box Office 0845 111 2900. The weigh-in and aftershow party will take place at Grosvenor Casino Walsall, Bentley Mill Drive, Walsall (just off junction 10 of the M6).