Frazer Clarke: ‘The reality of boxing at the Olympics is no fight’s easy’

Frazer Clarke

I didnโ€™t expect to be at the Opening Ceremony. I didnโ€™t think we would be allowed to go. But the opportunity came, I wasnโ€™t boxing for six days and I thought this is once in a lifetime, letโ€™s go and do it. Iโ€™m glad I did, my kids saw me on TV. I had to do something to get on TV. Iโ€™d seen the Uzbeks chanting, the Uruguayans dancing and I thought Iโ€™ve got to do something or weโ€™re going to be put to shame here.

The main objective for this Games is get here, get your medal and get home safely. You canโ€™t mix in the Athletes Village. Covidโ€™s already ruined enough stuff, youโ€™d hate to get this far and then be ruled out because you had a positive test. Iโ€™m very proud to be part of this team thatโ€™s actually here. Itโ€™s fantastic. Iโ€™m so glad Iโ€™m 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, itโ€™s difficult. But at the same, as I tried to explain to all the others, thatโ€™s not the way I would have liked it to go but thatโ€™s the wake up call and thatโ€™s the reality of boxing at the Olympics. No fightโ€™s easy. Every fightโ€™s going to be difficult. So if you donโ€™t get it 100% right then, youโ€™re not going to get it. Itโ€™s a horrible way to learn the lesson and a harsh way to learn the lesson, with someone whoโ€™s 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 heโ€™s achieved. But it just wasnโ€™t to be. Iโ€™m just proud of him, a friend for life for me and Iโ€™m 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 itโ€™s not going to be full, because it would have been electric in there.

We have to be selfish. Weโ€™re in there to get what we came for as individuals so tomorrowโ€™s the time to switch on again.

I couldnโ€™t be more focused. Iโ€™ve had a bit more time, just to finalise that sharpness and get the gameplan together. Thereโ€™s also five or six boxers that have come out here as sparring partners and Iโ€™ve got the amazingly talented Delicious Orie whoโ€™s out here. Heโ€™s up and coming but I couldnโ€™t ask for better rounds, a young lad with lots of ambition, lots of talent whoโ€™s in a way doing what I was trying to do for big Joe Joyce in Rio.

I feel relaxed, very confident. I know that Iโ€™m in there with quite a handful, Tsotne Rogava from Ukraine, to get started. But I wouldnโ€™t have it any other way. I want to hit the ground running. I donโ€™t want to look too far ahead but after the first one Iโ€™m looking to get revenge for the defeat in Paris to Mourad Aliev because thatโ€™s 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, โ€œClarke, do you fancy some light sparring tomorrow?โ€ Are you joking, I thought, weโ€™re going to fight each other next week. I didnโ€™t know whether to take it as a compliment he wants to get some good work in or disrespect. Does he think Iโ€™m an easy touch that he wants to have a little sparring session with me?!

Heโ€™s going to have the shock of his life, Iโ€™m 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.

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