OLYMPIC heavyweight prospect Frazer Clarke has sprung to defence of trainer Rob McCracken following Anthony Joshuaโ€™s shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday night.

McCracken, who combines being Joshuaโ€™s chief corner man with his role as performance director of Great Britainโ€™s boxing squad, has been criticised by the likes of former champion Lennox Lewis in the wake of Joshuaโ€™s 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: โ€œAnyone who wants to criticise Rob McCracken doesnโ€™t know anything about boxing โ€“ for me heโ€™s one of the most knowledgeable people in the sport.

โ€œHeโ€™s 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.

Rob McCracken
Trainer Rob McCracken has come under fire following Anthony Joshuaโ€™s defeat (Nick Potts/PA)

โ€œRob is 100 per cent committed to Anthony. I heard someone saying he was speaking โ€˜basicsโ€™ in the corner. โ€˜Basicsโ€™ 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 Saturdayโ€™s ill-fated contest, said he is convinced with the help of McCracken, the Londoner will bounce back stronger.

โ€œI 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.

Frazer Clarke
Frazer Clarke won Commonwealth Games gold in 2018 (Danny Lawson/PA)

โ€œWe 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 heโ€™s been defeated before and heโ€™s always come back and avenged it, and Iโ€™ve 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 sportโ€™s 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.

โ€œIโ€™m going out there to make a statement,โ€ added Clarke. โ€œI feel like Iโ€™m 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€