This one’s got a bit of everything: hometown glory, heavyweight thud, and two big lads who don’t mess about. Fabio Wardley’s finally landing the homecoming fight he’s been banging on about since day dot – and he ain’t just coming home for a cuppa. He’s dragging Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller into Ipswich for a right tear-up, with the interim WBA World Heavyweight strap on the line.
Wardley: The Tractor Boy Turned Wrecking Ball
Fabio’s unbeaten in 19, with 17 knockouts – not exactly shy with the hands. Last time out he straight out flattened Frazer Clarke in one round like it was a pub brawl, brushing off their mad draw from the year before, which every Brit and their nan called Fight of the Year. He’s cleaned out a decent chunk of the domestic scene already – Gorman, Adeleye, you name it – collecting belts like stickers along the way.
Now, he’s top-ranked with the WBA, and sniffing around world title shots like a dog after bacon. This Portman Road night? It’s personal. His words:
“I’m not just turning up to wave at the crowd. I’m here to go to war. And believe me, I’ll go deep if I have to – blood, sweat, whatever. This is everything to me.”
Big Baby’s Back – And Still Loud as Ever
Jarrell Miller might be 36, but he’s still got a chin made of brick and the mouth of a bloke who’s had ten Red Bulls before breakfast. He bullied Lucas Browne last year, had a decent go against Dubois till the legs went, then nearly nicked a decision over Andy Ruiz – though the judges bottled it and called it a draw.
Spencer Brown, who backs Miller like a dad at Sunday league, reckons:
“If I didn’t think he’d beat Fabio, we wouldn’t be getting on a plane. Wardley’s good, but he’s about to find out what chewing off more than you can swallow looks like.”
Portman Road Turns Into a Warzone
This isn’t just a boxing night. It’s Ipswich’s answer to Glastonbury – but instead of guitars, it’s gloves and gumshields. Frank Warren, who finally made this mad idea happen, put it best:
“Fabio’s been rattling on about this Portman Road fight since we first signed him. He’s got what he wanted, but now he’s got to deliver – and Miller’s the size of a fridge with fists.”
Mark Ashton, Ipswich Town’s chairman, was buzzing too:
“Four years we’ve talked about this. It’s finally happening. Fabio’s one of our own, and this is the kind of night that’ll go down in club history… if he wins.”
The Scrap: June 7 – DAZN’s Got It, Town’s Behind It
The show’s called Running Towards Adversity, which is a polite way of saying “yeah, this’ll be rough.” DAZN will be streaming the lot, live and exclusive, and they reckon this could be Wardley’s breakthrough moment. Michael Ridout from DAZN summed it up nicely:
“Fabio’s been on fire, Miller never shuts up – this is perfect telly.”
Tickets drop for Ipswich Town season ticket holders on April 7. General sale hits April 9.
Last Updated on 04/05/2025
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