Jeamie TKV Looks Ahead to David Adeleye Rematch Following Frazer Clarke Bout

Jeamie TKV isn’t ready to let go of his rivalry with David Adeleye just yet, despite having to turn his focus to an upcoming clash with Frazer Clarke.

Their British title fight in April ended in controversial fashion, with Adeleye (14-2, 13 KOs) securing a sixth-round stoppage that many viewed as a cheap shot. At the time, TKV (8-2, 5 KOs) appeared to be controlling the fight comfortably before a sudden left hook — landed immediately after the referee called ‘break’ — abruptly shifted momentum and sealed his fate.

Fans and pundits expected an immediate rematch, but Adeleye instead chose to fight Filip Hrgovic over 10 rounds. Though frustrated by the outcome and the delay in settling scores, TKV remains confident his chance for revenge is coming.

“The nature of that defeat didn’t faze me one bit because I knew it was a cheap shot,” TKV told Boxing News. “I was ready to go back in there and fight him, but unfortunately, he wasn’t interested in the rematch.

“Queensberry and my team had agreed — we thought everything was set — but nothing was agreed on his side. I feel like he did that deliberately.

“They let it go to purse bids, and we accepted whatever the money was. We said, ‘It doesn’t matter about the money; we just want Adeleye and the British title.’

“I guess he thought I’d back off, but I stayed on it and he vacated the title to fight Hrgovic.

“I was disappointed we couldn’t get the rematch done, but we’ll circle back. I just have to win this British title first, and then I’ll get Adeleye later on.”

TKV now gets a second shot at the Lonsdale Belt when he takes on Frazer Clarke (9-1-1, 7 KOs) in the main event at the Vaillant Live in Derby on October 25.

After appealing to the British Boxing Board of Control to overturn his loss to Adeleye, TKV acknowledges the difficulty of having decisions reversed but appreciates the opportunity he’s been given.

“I feel more could have been done to get the result overturned to a no-contest, but the Board said it’s very difficult because it could open the floodgates for other appeals.

“Our response was that not every case is like ours, but the Board still gave me a second opportunity to win the British title, so I can’t complain.”

The heavyweight division is brimming with opportunity, and Clarke is also eager for his third British title shot. The fight will headline the inaugural event of the new partnership between BBC Sport and Boxxer, airing live and free on BBC Two (8-10pm) and BBC iPlayer.