Clarke back in UK after surgery on broken jaw

Burton-on-Trent's Clarke lost his first pro fight in his 10th outing

Heavyweight Frazer Clarke has had surgery on his jaw and cheekbone following his first-round stoppage loss to Fabio Wardley in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

The 33-year-old was taken to hospital after suffering a fracture high on his jaw in their British title fight.

Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom said Clarke underwent "minor" surgery in Riyadh on Sunday. He landed back in the United Kingdom on Monday morning.

"He's feeling more motivated than ever to come back bigger and better in the new year," Shalom told Sky Sports.

Clarke, a 2020 Olympic bronze medallist, lost for the first time as a pro as Wardley, 29, retained his British title at the Kingdom Arena.

In a rematch of March's fight of the year contender which ended in a draw, Wardley hurt Clarke with a strong right hand in the first round after a flurry of punches.

Clarke rose to his feet but with his jaw visibly out of place, the referee stopped the contest.

Ipswich's Wardley offered his best wishes to Clarke.

"I always take a prayer before my fight, always ask for me and my opponent to leave and be healthy," Wardley added.

"I want, whoever I'm in with, to go back to their family and I hope he's well, I hope I can speak to him afterwards because those first 12 rounds we shared first were special."

Wardley - who had no amateur career and only a handful of unlicensed white collar bouts before turning pro - has now stopped 17 opponents in his 18 wins.

"I'm ready to mix it with those boys. I've got the power to mix it with them all, I can take a shot, and I can have a war," he said.

"You've seen me do everything. I'm ready for that world stage now."