JEAMIE TKV UPSETS OLYMPIAN FRAZER CLARKE, CLAIMS BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CROWN IN DERBY
TKV claimed the British Heavyweight title, defeating Frazer Clarke by split decision in a gruelling fight. The event marked professional boxing's return to BBC TV.
Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva (9-2, 5 KOs) beat Frazer Clarke (9-2-1, 7 KOs) by split decision on November 29, 2025, grabbing the British heavyweight title. This was a big deal, as it was the first time in 20 years that live pro boxing was back on BBC TV.
The fight at the Derby Vaillant Live arena wasn't a technical masterpiece. There was a lot of holding, but things got interesting when TKV from Tottenham landed a hard left hook on Clarke in the 11th round.
Clarke, though shaken, managed to stay on his feet and get back to his corner. His trainer almost stopped the fight, but the tired 34-year-old said he could keep going and fought until the end.
The judges scored it 115-113 and 115-112 for TKV, while one judge had it 115-112 for Clarke, who won a bronze medal at the Olympics.
It feels great. "I beat him on his own turf," said TKV, 32, from London. He had a point taken away for a low blow in the third round.
I knew he would hang in there, but he was tired early on. This isn't the Olympics anymore.”
TKV later said he was sorry for his distasteful comments at the post-fight press conference.
Clarke, a Tokyo 2020 winner, suffered his second pro loss. Now in his mid-thirties, it's not clear what's next for him.
For TKV, this is his biggest win so far in his 11th fight.
He left the ring with the British heavyweight title, joining a list of champs like Henry Cooper, Lennox Lewis, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua.
About 3,500 fans filled the arena, booing TKV as he walked to the ring. Clarke, from nearby Burton-upon-Trent, got a big cheer.
The fans were happy when Clarke started strong, landing a jab to the body and some uppercuts that bothered TKV.
But TKV, whose father and grandfather were in the Zairean army, showed he could fight and settled into the match.
The fight was first planned for October, but TKV had to pull out due to a rib injury. This made things tense between them.
Clarke's corner kept complaining about TKV's low blows, some of which the referee didn't see. The ref warned TKV in the third round, and soon after, another low blow cost TKV a point.
There weren't many jabs; instead, Clarke kept holding, and TKV leaned heavily. The punches thrown were big but obvious.
TKV did well with his left hook and Clarke with his uppercut, but both fighters took the hits well.
When the fight seemed to be slowing down, TKV, with a swollen right eye, landed a left hook in the 11th that stunned Clarke.
Clarke stayed standing by leaning on TKV, looking out of it as the referee watched closely.
His coach, Angel Fernandez, almost stopped the fight, but Clarke insisted on going on.
He left the ring without talking to the press, still looking dazed.
'Billion Dollar Baby' wins big.
In the main supporting fight, English bantamweight Francesca 'Billion Dollar Baby' Hennessy is now 7-0 after beating former atomweight world champ Fabiana Bytyqi.
Hennessy, 21, had a great entrance with dancers and showed quick footwork, good shot selection, and smooth combinations.
She kept hitting the body of the 29-year-old Czech fighter, who used to be a world champ at atomweight. All three judges gave every round to Hennessey.
"BDB (Billion Dollar Baby) on the BBC, let's go," said Hennessy, calling out former bantamweight world champ Shannon Courtenay.
Clarke, TKV, and Hennessy all played a part in what could be a big night for British boxing.
Even though there wasn't a world-title fight or a famous name on the card, being on free TV can reach new fans, get young people into boxing gyms, and help the sport grow in ways that pay-per-view can't.
We'll see what happens, but if some kids join their local boxing club on Monday, the night will have been worth it.
INJURY UPDATE: RYAN GARCIA DODGES SURGERY; CLEARED FOR MASSIVE JULY RING RETURN
After clinching the WBC title, Ryan Garcia's hand is confirmed as "not broken," clearing the path for a 144lb catchweight mega-fight.
Ryan Garcia dodged a broken hand after his world title win over Mario Barrios, even though his hand looked pretty rough right after the fight.
That night in February was huge for Garcia. He dropped Barrios, dominated the fight, and finally got his hands on a world championship belt.
But right after the final bell, Garcia couldn’t hide the pain. His hand was swollen, and a lot of people figured it was broken. When he pulled off his glove, it looked even worse – bad enough that you’d expect the worst.
Turns out, he got lucky. Boxing reporter Mike Coppinger says Garcia’s hand isn’t broken after all. His advisor, Guadalupe Valencia, told Ring Magazine it’s just a light sprain. That’s a relief, and it means Garcia can look at a July return to the ring.
So, no rematch with Barrios. Garcia is free to chase some of the bigger names in the division, and honestly, that’s what fans want to see.
First up, there’s Conor Benn, who’s the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s WBC belt. But Benn is already booked for an April fight against Regis Prograis at 150 pounds. Since Benn only has a one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, his next move isn’t clear, so a summer fight with Garcia is up in the air.
But Garcia seems to have someone else in mind anyway. After his win, he immediately called out Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson just picked up the WBO title at 140 pounds after a big win over Teofimo Lopez. Now, a fight between these two is actually on the table.
Stevenson isn’t shy about what he wants, though. He’s made it clear he wants VADA drug testing and a catchweight of 144 pounds for the fight. Here’s what he said: “Was VADA involved in this fight? I saw him with Rolly; he didn’t look like that. If he’s fighting me next, I’m all for the challenge, but VADA will be involved.
“We’ll meet in the middle at 144 pounds. Two big stars – we don’t need a belt for the fight.
“I think it’s a great fight to make. I’m in this for big fights. Ryan and I would have an even bigger fight, and it would be a tremendous fight.
"I want to fight him, and he wants to fight me, so it should be easy to get it done. We’ve just got to make sure he’s on VADA, and there’s no cheating involved.”
NO MORE EXCUSES: WHY DANIEL DUBOIS MUST PROVE HIS MENTAL TOUGHNESS AGAINST WARDLEY
Is Dubois ready for Wardley? Discover why Frank Warren is demanding control and the latest on Don Charles' return to the corner.
Daniel Dubois’ main problem against Oleksandr Usyk was control. That’s what he needs to fix if he wants any chance of beating Fabio Wardley.
Back in August 2024, Dubois faced Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title at Wembley. He showed up just 90 minutes before his ringwalk, way after Usyk had already settled in. Sure, the fifth-round knockout stung, but honestly, the chaos before the fight said just as much. When a fighter’s environment falls apart, so does the fight. That night, Dubois’ camp looked anything but organised.
Frank Warren put it simply: “That can’t happen again.” He told Sky Sports he was “tearing my hair out” over the late arrival – pretty blunt for a promoter right before a big fight. When the people running the show admit something went wrong, you know it did. They needed to make changes.
This time, Dubois and his team are keeping things tight. Warren confirmed they’ll stay in a Manchester hotel for the Wardley fight, cutting down on distractions and locking in the logistics. Dubois has also gone back to Don Charles after a short stint with Tony Sims, choosing stability and someone he trusts over more guesswork. Right now, he needs things simple and solid.
Now he’s facing Wardley, who doesn’t waste time. Wardley’s undefeated, throws a ton of punches, and turns up the heat early. If Dubois hesitates, Wardley will catch it and punish it. There’s no hiding from uncertainty in this matchup. Dubois will have to show, right away, that he’s ready.
The fight’s set for May 9 in Manchester, with the WBO heavyweight title on the line. After Wembley, Dubois gets another shot at the top. He’s called the Usyk loss a lesson and promised not to repeat the same mistakes. But talk is cheap. We’ll see if he’s really changed if his team’s prepared, if he shows up ready, and if everything around him is locked down when the pressure hits.
Manchester will tell the story. If Dubois comes in calm and focused, people will notice. If the same old mess shows up, the problem won’t be with his boxing; it’ll be about control. And in heavyweight title fights, that’s usually what decides who walks away with the belt and who goes back to chasing.
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