Frazer Clarke hopes winning the British heavyweight title will enable him to achieve bigger goals, as has happened with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Lennox Lewis.
Clarke (9-1-1, 7 KO) feels he can undo the damage caused by a crushing first-round knockout defeat to Fabio Wardley last October when he faced Jeamie “TKV” Tshikewa (8-2, 5 KO) for the vacant British heavyweight title on Saturday in Derby, England.
Clarke, 34, from Burton-upon-Trent, won an Olympic bronze medal in 2021 but suffered a broken jaw and cheekbone in his first professional defeat against Wardley, which came after a thrilling points draw with his English rival in March last year. Both fights were for the British title, with Wardley winning the WBO interim title.
Clarke has since recorded a first-round victory over Ebenezer Tetteh and this will be his third attempt at winning the British title after two fights against Wardley, who was recently elevated to the WBO world title after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.
“The likes of Henry Cooper, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Lennox Lewis held the British title belt and look what they did after winning it,” Clarke told ESPN.
“It’s like a maturation, a natural progression and that’s a large deal. I know what a British title can do for a career and I’m just focusing on winning the TKV fight rather than thinking about future fights.
“I had one comeback fight. I wish I was busier, but the promoter was [Boxxer] I had a situation, so I waited and now I finally got the chance.
Clarke, who has worked as a security guard at boxing events, believes 20-year-old sensation Moses Itauma is the best of the challengers behind world No. 1 Usyk of Ukraine.
“Moses is excelling, he’s the most stimulating player around and he’s been pushed really well,” Clarke told ESPN.
“[Former IBF champion] Daniel Dubois is newborn and will be around. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury [both former two-time world champions] he could leave and then you have people like Fabio and Lawrence [Okolie]David Adeleye and Johnny Fisher will also return. There are people who will fight for good titles.”
Clarke will face Tottenham’s TKV in London on BBC television in what will be the first live professional men’s boxing show in 20 years.
“More focus on myself and boxing will be good for me, but that’s the last thing on my mind right now,” Clarke told ESPN.
“I could fight this fight in the back garden. Some people are looking for fame, but my aim is to be British champion, whether I’m on TV or not.”