Cruiserweight Cheavon Clarke locks horns with 25-fight veteran Tommy McCarthy in Belfast tonight after just seven professional fights.
Matchroom’sClarke (7-0, 5 KOs) takes on McCarthy in his opponent’s hometown in the chief support on the Lewis Crocker-Jose Felix undercard broadcast live on DAZN from Ulster Hall.
“I expect him to come in there and do whatever every fighter has tried to do to beat me,” Clarke said, exclusively to ProBox TV. “I hope he has prepared well because it is going to be a very bad night for him. I think my last two opponents are better than him. Cheav wins!”
Clarke has burst onto the European cruiserweight scene with impressive victories over David Jamieson and Vasil Ducar, with his promoters showing their intent of fast-tracking him to a title shot following a solid amateur career.
“You guys have been saying I’m moving at a pace, maybe you are moving too slow, I’m going at my pace,” Clarke said, answering the notion of being fast-tracked. “I’m just being me and doing my thing. I don’t look at any of these guys being better than me. If a fight comes, I will just take a fight. You know what I mean, if it makes sense for me then, yeah.”
En route to the pros, Clarke was drafted into work as sparring partner for former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand. The football superstar had intended on giving boxing a crack shortly after an illustrious career where he was regarded as one of the best centre backs in modern history.
“I was fortunate enough to be on the GB boxing team at that point,” Clarke said of his experience. “He [Ferdnand] came into the gym to learn his trade working with Richie Woodhall, former Olympic coach and bronze medalist. He would also come in to do his weights. I was one of the boxers that got brought into to spar him, and yeah, he was a very good guy to me. I would go to his house and do some sessions at his house. He was just a normal individual. Whenever I reach out to him he replies. He is a big guy, all big guys have power.”
