I didnโt expect to be at the Opening Ceremony. I didnโt think we would be allowed to go. But the opportunity came, I wasnโt boxing for six days and I thought this is once in a lifetime, letโs go and do it. Iโm glad I did, my kids saw me on TV. I had to do something to get on TV. Iโd seen the Uzbeks chanting, the Uruguayans dancing and I thought Iโve got to do something or weโre going to be put to shame here.
The main objective for this Games is get here, get your medal and get home safely. You canโt mix in the Athletes Village. Covidโs already ruined enough stuff, youโd hate to get this far and then be ruled out because you had a positive test. Iโm very proud to be part of this team thatโs actually here. Itโs fantastic. Iโm so glad Iโm here but it would have been lovely to get involved with everyone else and see the different cultures. I looked off my balcony before the Opening Ceremony and the Americans, as Americans do, had their whole team in a big circle on the grass singing the national anthem at the top of their voices. It was quite special. The New Zealanders were doing the Haka. The Aussies were just smiling at each other. It was a good day.
Peter McGrail losing, I take it quite badly. These are my mates, I see what they put in, itโs difficult. But at the same, as I tried to explain to all the others, thatโs not the way I would have liked it to go but thatโs the wake up call and thatโs the reality of boxing at the Olympics. No fightโs easy. Every fightโs going to be difficult. So if you donโt get it 100% right then, youโre not going to get it. Itโs a horrible way to learn the lesson and a harsh way to learn the lesson, with someone whoโs so good. But the only thing the rest of the team can do now is learn from that. Peter McGrail is probably the leader of the pack when it comes to being a skillful boxer, look at what heโs achieved. But it just wasnโt to be. Iโm just proud of him, a friend for life for me and Iโm sure most of the squad.
Even compared to the qualifier in Paris, it was really different in the arena. Such a huge and wonderful stadium, awful shame itโs not going to be full, because it would have been electric in there.
We have to be selfish. Weโre in there to get what we came for as individuals so tomorrowโs the time to switch on again.
I couldnโt be more focused. Iโve had a bit more time, just to finalise that sharpness and get the gameplan together. Thereโs also five or six boxers that have come out here as sparring partners and Iโve got the amazingly talented Delicious Orie whoโs out here. Heโs up and coming but I couldnโt ask for better rounds, a young lad with lots of ambition, lots of talent whoโs in a way doing what I was trying to do for big Joe Joyce in Rio.
I feel relaxed, very confident. I know that Iโm in there with quite a handful, Tsotne Rogava from Ukraine, to get started. But I wouldnโt have it any other way. I want to hit the ground running. I donโt want to look too far ahead but after the first one Iโm looking to get revenge for the defeat in Paris to Mourad Aliev because thatโs who I imagine I would be boxing.
You want to test yourself against the best fighters in the world. At the Opening Ceremony, I was going into the toilet and I bumped into Bakhodir Jalolov, the number one super-heavyweight at the moment, and he said, โClarke, do you fancy some light sparring tomorrow?โ Are you joking, I thought, weโre going to fight each other next week. I didnโt know whether to take it as a compliment he wants to get some good work in or disrespect. Does he think Iโm an easy touch that he wants to have a little sparring session with me?!
Heโs going to have the shock of his life, Iโm telling you.
On Thursday July 29 Frazer Clarke will box Tsotne Rogava in his first bout at the Olympic Games at 4.30am UK time. BBC, Eurosport and Discovery+ are screening the Olympics.