Frazer Clarke bids for Commonwealth gold: ‘I’ve done so many rounds with Anthony Joshua... Nobody has prepared like I have’

Interview: On the eve of his bid for Commonwealth glory in Australia, Frazer Clarke reveals how sessions with Anthony Joshua and life as a fight night security guard have shaped him

Declan Taylor
Monday 09 April 2018 12:26 BST
Comments
Frazer Clarke has set his sights on Commonwealth and Olympic glory
Frazer Clarke has set his sights on Commonwealth and Olympic glory (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Look closely at footage from any number of the major British fight nights from the past three or four years and there is every chance you will see Britain’s latest super-heavyweight hope on the safe side of the ropes.

Frazer Clarke, when he is not boxing himself, often works as a security guard where his ringside position has allowed him to enjoy a unique view of the business to which he has dedicated his life.

Great Britain’s superb amateur boxing system has produced a remarkable four super-heavyweight medals in the past five Olympic games, starting with Audley Harrison’s gold at Sydney in 2000 and including Anthony Joshua’s in London 12 years later.

Clarke knows all about AJ, who has since become the biggest star in the sport, having trained alongside him and sparred countless rounds with him at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport. The 26-year-old has also helped make sure many of the world heavyweight champion’s big nights run smoothly.

Now Clarke is bidding to follow in Joshua’s footsteps by claiming gold at Tokyo 2020 after deciding against turning professional early. The Burton man can further prove his credentials as one of the best +91kgs on the planet during the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, when he bid gets under way on Tuesday.

“There is me and a couple of others floating around that No1 spot, but on my day I know I beat anyone in the world over three three-minute rounds,” he told The Independent. “With the right tactics, we dissect every opponent, take it one round at a time and I beat them all.”

But the No1 spot on the squad has been a long time coming for Clarke, who has watched both Joshua and 2016 silver medallist Joe Joyce be picked ahead of him for the past two Olympics. Many others would have turned their back on amateur boxing and tried their hand in the paid ranks but Clarke resisted that temptation.

“The Olympic Games is something I set out to do when I was 11 years old,” he said. ”I’ve missed out on it twice, to Anthony Joshua and then Joe Joyce but it’s my time now. I really want it. Anyone can say they’ve been a boxer but only a handful of people can say they’ve been to the Olympics and won a medal.

Anthony Joshua won Olympic gold at London 2012
Anthony Joshua won Olympic gold at London 2012 (Getty)

I’m going to be one of those. I never just sat back. When Joshua was No1 I was trying to catch him, when Joe was No1 I was trying to catch him. I got close, I got really close, but they were two justified Olympians.

“Now it’s all down to me and I need to prove I made the right decision by performing at competitions like the Commonwealth Games. Otherwise I will have just been wasting my time.”

Few other boxers in Australia will be able to say that sparring the unified world heavyweight champion, who moved to 21-0 and claimed the WBO belt by beating Joseph Parker, has made up the bulk of their preparation.

As such, the experienced Clarke, who also boxed both Joshua and Parker in the amateurs, will start as one of the favourites for gold in the Commonwealth super-heavyweight tournament.

Frazer Clarke is bidding for super-heavyweight gold in Gold Coast
Frazer Clarke is bidding for super-heavyweight gold in Gold Coast (Getty)

“Nobody has prepared like I have,” he adds. “I’ve done so many rounds with Joshua, so many rounds with other great fighters. In this gym Joshua is not the heavyweight champion of the world. He’s not Anthony Joshua, he’s just AJ. He might sign a few gloves for us and have a laugh but when you come in this gym, it’s a gym full of winners. He’s just another winner.

“I expect to win, I expect to win well all the time. After the training which I’ve had and which I’ve done, if there is anyone at the Commonwealth Games who can beat me then fair play to them.”

Clarke’s gold rush at the Commonwealth Games, and hopefully the Olympics thereafter, has meant his career as a security guard has been put on hold, but he believes the nights spent ringside helped pave the way to his success.

“Those guys at Security Alert really helped me out,” Clarke says. “When times were hard and I wasn’t earning much money, they gave me a boost financially and also they kept me out of trouble.

“And remember, those Saturday nights where I would have been up to no good I was by the side of the boxing ring instead, watching and learning. I’m still doing it sometimes, if they need me, obviously I have to concentrate on the boxing at the moment but when I’m needed at the big fight nights I’m there on call for those guys always.

“And who knows? One day they might be doing the security for my fights.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in