Wardley reveals sickening injury from Adeleye launch party scrap nearly ended his career.. before ruthless TKO in ring
FABIO WARDLEY revealed how he shrugged off a career-threatening injury to win his biggest fight yet.
The Ipswich heavyweight defended his British title in Saudi Arabia as chief support to the mega-money Tyson Fury win over Francis Ngannou with a ruthless TKO of David Adeleye.
And SunSport can now reveal the vicious finish and emotional celebration stemmed from the Dillian Whyte protege suffering a sickening gash just under his chin — and dangerously close to his neck — just seven weeks out from the battle at the Riyadh show’s London launch party.
A clash with Adeleye on the red carpet led to an assailant striking Wardley twice, before he fell to the floor and left with cuts to his temple and chin.
The champ somehow bravely walked out of the event on his feet but closer inspection found an horrific wound, right down to his jaw bone, just inches from the arteries in his neck.
And Raj Ragoowansi — the leading plastic surgeon who treated him — concluded in his report that his patient had been struck by a “sharp device”.
Wardley, 28, and his close-knit team could have cancelled the fight, involved the police and caused uproar for British boxing at a time when it is already seriously struggling for credibility.
Instead they worked in dignified silence with Frank Warren’s Queensberry promoters to ensure an iconic fight took place and their man left the desert with four belts and endless respect.
Wardley said: “A few inches higher and I could have lost an eye. A few inches lower and it could have hit an artery in my neck.
“A few inches one way and it could have ended my career, a few inches the other and it could have been genuinely life ending.
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“It was not just a boxing scuffle or a scratch, there is a permanent mark to my face.”
SunSport has seen the report Mr Ragoowansi sent to Wardley, which read: “You presented with a deep chin laceration after you were assaulted yesterday evening (Sept 7).
“The laceration is down to the bone and the lower lip depressors. It has the characteristics of a wound caused by a sharp device”.
After Saturday’s seventh-round win, with a left hook that floored Adeleye, Mr Ragoowansi said: “I can only take a tiny bit of credit because the courage he showed in following instructions and getting in the ring, with his preparations so hampered, was extraordinary.”
The implement Wardley was struck with was so sharp he did not even feel the impact but now he still seems unsure how he handled it all.
The Vow Nutrition ambassador said: “I didn’t feel anything like a stabbing sensation. I was putting my hat and glasses back on when everyone started telling me my chin was bleeding, I rubbed it with my hand and it was covered in blood.
“It was weird, surreal. I remember thinking, ‘Is this really f***ing happening?’
“But I’m hard-headed and always knew I’d make the fight.
“I was never going to give them the satisfaction of walking away from the fight, even when friends, family and medical people told me it was impossible.”
SunSport understands the British Boxing Board of Control is investigating the situation.
Adeleye’s manager Francis Warren said: “Out of respect for the BBBofC hearing due to take place, which is common when there is a suggestion of the sport being brought into disrepute, we will make no further comment.”