Before his boxing career, Fabio Wardley would commute from east Anglia to London Liverpool Street for his recruitment job.
However, after starting his boxing journey, first as a white collar fighter and then as a small hall professional, Wardley’s dreams shifted. He went from watching big events and envisioning competing for a low-level title at the end of his career, to now aiming for world honours in a division that he believes is on the verge of significant change.
Wardley is currently preparing for his upcoming clash with David Adeleye, where he will defend his British title and vie for the vacant Commonwealth title. This fight will be Wardley’s first defense of the belt he won by defeating Nathan Gorman in November.
Although it may seem odd that this fight is taking place in Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s crossover fight with debutant Francis Ngannou, Wardley saw the opportunity for financial gain and exposure, making it an easy decision for him considering his long-standing relationship with Matchroom and DAZN.
Reflecting on his journey, Wardley recalls his early days selling tickets for small hall shows and dreaming of one big fight to end his career. However, he now realizes that he has achieved much more than he initially anticipated, finding himself fully immersed in the world of boxing.
With a record of 16-0, including 15 knockouts, Wardley acknowledges the need for readjustment in his long-term goals. He sees an opportunity within the division, as he believes the current top names are nearing the end of their careers, leaving room for new contenders like himself to rise to the forefront of British boxing.
Wardley envisions himself fighting for world honours within the next four or five bouts, considering himself not far behind the current elite. He maintains a confident mindset, having consistently surpassed his previous goals, and now aims for the ultimate achievement in the sport.
Nevertheless, Wardley’s immediate focus is on his upcoming fight against Adeleye. He expects the bout to be concluded well before the scheduled 12 rounds. While acknowledging the incident that occurred on the red carpet, resulting in cuts on his face and almost jeopardizing the fight, Wardley prefers not to dwell on it. He distances himself from such behavior and remains unbothered by Adeleye, viewing him as just another obstacle to overcome on his journey to bigger and better things.