Boxer Fabio Wardley hopes Ipswich Town will secure promotion

Big puncher Wardley (17-0-1, 16KO) comes from Chantry in Ipswich and wears the Town badge and colours into the ring when he fights.

He’s hoping for a repeat of last season’s promotion party, which saw him celebrate on the pitch with the players, hug CEO Mark Ashton and try to persuade then loan striker George Hirst to return to the Blues, which he duly did.

And Wardley, 29, revealed he is keeping "everything crossed" ahead of the visit of Huddersfield Town this lunchtime.

Fabio Wardly wears the Town badge and colours into the ring (Image: Ross Halls)

He said: “Saturday is a massive day, not only for the club, but for the town as well.

“It’s going to be a fantastic occasion. We know it was like at the end of last season, how big it was and how much the town rallied behind the club, the atmosphere, the buzz, the emotion – all of that went into the day.

“Obviously, my fingers, toes and everything’s crossed hoping for the same result and the same ending to the story that we had last year.

“I know the players, I know the lads – they’re fully-focused on taking it one game at a time, one moment at time, one tackle at a time.

“Just stay focused, stay on track and keep your eyes on the prize, that’s the main thing for them.

“I have full faith in them, I know they’ve got it in the locker – they’ve got the ability, the skills and the willpower to power through any struggles.

“It’s going to be an emotional occasion, but they’re all switched on and they’re going to be more than ready.”

Wardley has long spoken of his dream of fighting at Portman Road, with Ashton recently saying they'd like to make that happen this year.

His potential rematch with Frazer Clarke, after a classic draw between the pair on Easter Sunday at the O2, would appear to be a fight capable of packing out Town's stadium.