Fabio Wardley insists the British government should look to include boxing in their rescue package for sport.
Boxing was excluded from the £300m bailout announced on Thursday to provide emergency resources to 11 sports, amid the shortage of revenue generated from a lack of spectators in line with Covid-19 regulations.
Matchroom Director Eddie Hearn wrote an open letter to the government on Monday calling for them to invest in grassroots boxing and English heavyweight champion, Wardley believes the sport should be given more support, drawing on its wide benefits.
“It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth really,” Wardley told proboxing-fans.com of the decision.
“Especially [being] one of the UK’s biggest sports, I think definitely now with the likes of [Anthony] Joshua, especially with [Tyson] Fury now, the whole of the heavyweight division is in the UK.
“Surely we should back it, surely we should get behind it and support it.
“It’s taken so many people away from bad parts of their lives or got people into good spaces.
Today, I have written to @HuddlestonNigel @OliverDowden in the hope they consider including grass roots boxing in the Government rescue package for sport. I strongly believe that our sport is unique in the role it plays within the community. pic.twitter.com/SPWVDVxcl7
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) November 23, 2020
“Even mental health is obviously a massive thing lately and I think boxing is testament to how that’s helped so many people.
“Even at my local boxing club I know loads of people that do boxing just because it’s nice to have that stress relief, it does you well and you do a really hard session and at the end of it you feel great.
“I think it’s a big thing that needs to be done, I think the government definitely does need to back British boxing.”
Wardley put in a destructive display to see off Richard Lartey in two rounds at The SSE Arena on Saturday night and is now targeting a shot at the British title.
Current British champion, Daniel Dubois will defend his Lonsdale belt and the Commonwealth title against Joe Joyce on Saturday night, with the winner expected to close in on a world title opportunity and the belts likely to become vacant.
Wardley, who is managed by Dillian Whyte says a fight with former British title challenger, Nathan Gorman is a feasible option for a British title clash next.
“The only one who is of any worth for the British title is Nathan [Gorman] really.
“I haven’t looked through the rankings myself particularly, but I don’t know who else is in and around that mark or on their way really, no one is.
“So it looks like the ideal set-up would be me and Nathan, it just looks like the one that would go together.
Watch the full interview with Fabio Wardley below where he also gives his take on Dubois vs Joyce having sparred both and the exhibition between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr on Saturday:
