Five Memorable All-British Heavyweight Fights

On Saturday, October 12, Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) and Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) will clash in their highly anticipated undisputed light heavyweight clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The undercard is stacked and led by Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke in their all-British heavyweight rematch. Ahead of their fight, there are free bets available for new Coral customers, as BFW take you back to relive five memorable all-British heavyweight bouts.

Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke II: Revisiting Classic All-British Heavyweight Showdowns

David Haye vs. Derek Chisora

On July 14, 2012, David Haye and Derek Chisora met at Upton Park, in what was a highly anticipated bout following the ugly press conference scuffle in Germany, and this was “Hayemaker” at his best, who stayed patient and found his range, before forcing the stoppage in round five.

Henry Cooper vs. Joe Bugner

On March 16, 1971, at Empire Pool, Henry Cooper vs. Joe Bugner took place and will always be remembered for its controversial ending. Bugner ultimately got the decision 73¾ points to 73½, which upset the ell-out 10,000 crowd, who booed loudly at the announcement of the decision. Bugner enjoyed success in the middle rounds, but 36-year-old Cooper returned in the later rounds and became the aggressor, which in the eyes of many was enough to get the decision – but the scorecards favoured the work by Bugner.

Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno

Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis locked horns on October 1, 1993, at Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales for the WBC heavyweight title. The atmosphere was incredible, with Bruno starting well, landing a huge right hand, which rocked Lewis early on. Lewis stayed patient and worked diligently to claw his way back into the fight. The West Ham fighter landed a big hook in round seven, before landing a hurtful combination. Lewis proved his exceptional ability to overcome challenging moments to get the job done, winning by seventh-round TKO.

Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke

Frazer Clarke and Fabio Wardley clashed on March 31, 2024, at the 02 Arena in an intriguing heavyweight fight that exceeded all expectations, producing a bloody back-and-forth classic. Clarke started the quicker but Wardley soon got into his groove in round two landing some nice-looking hook shots. A knockdown in the fifth swung the fight firmly toward the Ipswich fighter. Clarke showed good fundamentals during the middle rounds, showcasing his accurate punching ability.

The aggressor was Wardley, but Clarke was enjoying a strong seventh round before he was deducted a point for repeated low blows. The championship rounds were full of action, with the Ipswich man suffering from a nasty cut on his nose. Both men were sitting down on their shots and tagging each other, with the crowd on the edge of their seats. The final bell sounded and the scorecards were read 114-113 Wardley, 115-112 Clarke and the final card read 113-113, declaring it a draw. It’s now time for the rematch in Riyadh.

Herbie Hide vs. Michael Bentt

On Saturday, March 19, 1994, Herbie Hide challenged WBO heavyweight champion Michael Bentt for Bentt‘s title at The New Den. The “Dancing Destroyer” started fast, and his power was seemingly unsettling Bentt and Hide knocked his opponent down in the third round. The champion tried to get a foothold in the fight, but Hide landed a heavy combination, sending Bentt to the canvas, with the referee waving the fight off. Following the defeat, Bentt was hospitalised and unable to fight again.