OLYMPIC heavyweight prospect Frazer Clarke has sprung to defence of trainer Rob McCracken following Anthony Joshuaโs shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday night.
McCracken, who combines being Joshuaโs chief corner man with his role as performance director of Great Britainโs boxing squad, has been criticised by the likes of former champion Lennox Lewis in the wake of Joshuaโs defeat.
It is the first time questions have been raised about McCracken, a former world title contender who has guided numerous British boxers to Olympic titles, including Joshua who won gold when still a relative novice at London 2012.
The 27-year-old Clarke, who won Commonwealth Games gold in Gold Coast last year is the latest super-heavyweight to emerge off the Great Britain production line, and he credits his increasing success to the influence of McCracken.
Clarke told Press Association Sport: โAnyone who wants to criticise Rob McCracken doesnโt know anything about boxing โ for me heโs one of the most knowledgeable people in the sport.
โHeโs done wonders for me on both a personal and professional level. He goes above and beyond for all of the lads and ladies on the squad and I have got nothing but respect for him.
โRob is 100 per cent committed to Anthony. I heard someone saying he was speaking โbasicsโ in the corner. โBasicsโ win fights โ they got Joshua to be the Olympic and world champion.โ
Clarke, a long-time friend of Joshua who sparred a number of rounds with him in the build-up to Saturdayโs ill-fated contest, said he is convinced with the help of McCracken, the Londoner will bounce back stronger.
โI can understand people being shocked by the result but Anthony is the type of character who will come back better than ever,โ added Clarke.
โWe did a little bit of sparring and he looked as good as ever, but you have got to get it right on the day.ย But heโs been defeated before and heโs always come back and avenged it, and Iโve got no doubts he will do the same again.โ
Clarke is one of a 12-strong Great Britain boxing squad heading to Minsk later this month for the second European Games, which also doubles as the sportโs European Championships.
And he views the tournament as a significant staging-post in his quest to extend the list of successful British heavyweights ranging from Audley Harrison through to Joe Joyce and Joshua.
โIโm going out there to make a statement,โ added Clarke. โI feel like Iโm well known on the international stage but now I want the major medals โ the ones that at the end of your career everyone looks back upon and recognises.โ