Ask Cheavon Clarke how many times he’s died and his nonchalant reply is “a couple”.
Clarke might not be indestructible but the indomitable Olympian is looking to relaunch himself as a top professional against Jack Massey on Saturday.
If anyone can stage a boxing comeback, it’s Cheavon Clarke. Twice he’s brought himself back from the edge of death.
The first time he just a child. “I was a little kid, I was playing around on an unfinished building site and fell off a house – impaled on a spike,” Clarke told Sky Sports.
“The second time I think I was 18, I had an appendix bothering me for two weeks, I didn’t go [to hospital]. The doctor said it had exploded. Normally you’re meant to flatline from that.
“Thank God I’m here, doing good things.”
Jai Opetaia showed off his spiteful combinations as he punished Jack Massey and forced the stoppage in round six
In the chief support bout to the Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki main event at the Bournemouth International Centre, live on Sky Sports, Clarke will take on former world title challenger Jack Massey.
“I’m looking forward to it, get my career steamrolling again. I’m looking forward to it,” Clarke said.
“I’ve been a professional four years now, almost five, and I think if you look at the calibre of opponents I’ve fought in that time, I’ve fought people at his level and I’ve beaten them. So let’s get it on.”
Putting himself into tough fights has been a hallmark of Clarke’s pro career so far. He raced to win the British title in just his ninth pro bout. Clarke was then edged out of his European championship clash on a split decision in Monte Carlo, suffering a close loss to still unbeaten Frenchman Leonardo Mosquea.
He has rebuilt from a unanimous decision reverse to Viddal Riley at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium with a knockout win over Anthony Hollaway in December.
Jack Massey overcame Isaac Chamberlain to win the European and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles after a gruelling bout
“I think from the start I’ve made my statement,” Clarke said. “The first loss [to Mosquea] was 50-50, I was brought into the Frenchman’s back garden. Considering I was down in the first, I came back and a lot of people said to me that I won it. I’m talking people outsiders. So that one hurt. But we move on and that’s what I’m going to do.
“Looking back if I had taken some advice, we would have had the [Riley] fight but in a better time. It’s all good. It’s all part of the process. He had a good day on the day and it’s my time to go on now and do what I’ve got to do.”
He is now determined to show his true capabilities against Massey on Saturday.
“It’s going to be operational. That’s all I can say. Operational. You guys who have seen me fight, you know that I’m explosive and all of that,” he said.
“But I’m hoping to show what I’ve been learning in training and hopefully I apply it here and my coach will be happy, I’ll be happy, everybody will be happy when I’m victorious.”
Watch Zuffa Boxing 07 this Saturday live on Sky Sports, with early coverage streamed from 5pm ahead of live action on Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One from 7pm. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.
