Frazer outpointed India’s Satish Kumar over three tough rounds
before a raucous crowd on the Gold Coast. He overcame
exhaustion from a busy training and tournament schedule: only
the day before, Frazer defeated New Zealander Patrick Mailata,
another friend and training buddy.
“That’s why I got into boxing, for that rush when the winner is
announced when you hear ‘In the blue corner…’ you forget
all your troubles and pain. It’s ten seconds but it feels like ten
minutes.”
Frazer’s star has risen high. Though there was a time he would
only get a media mention alongside AJ, he is firmly established as
an individual force to be reckoned with in the British boxing world.
“Publicity-wise, working with AJ has done so much for me. But
I’m nobody’s mere ‘sparring partner’ – I’m a fighter; my job is to
represent my country. Working with him helps me physically and
mentally, it motivates me.”
Like all athletes, Frazer sees an accomplishment as not an
ending, but a terminus to better things. It’s never over until you’ve
done all you can.
“Yeah, I’ve done it. I’ve made everyone proud – the coach, the
country, my sponsors. But it’s a stepping stone, I’m nowhere near
where I want to be.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
“The first thing we [the training camp in Sheffield] will do is analyse
all three fights – what I did well, not so well and where I can
improve. We’ve got video analysts, psychologists. We’ll improve
on everything. I don’t just want to win, I want to win convincingly,
to look good when I do it. Looking back at the footage, I did
enough to win, but I’m not one to just get by. I’m going to be a
different animal from the one you saw on the Gold Coast.”
Frazer will work on weight and conditioning, improving his stamina
and cardiovascular health for the next Olympic games.
“I’ll travel to Tokyo two or three kilos lighter. Everyone puts on
weight at a multi-sporting event games like the Commonwealth
Games or Olympics. I won’t get sluggish.”
His life’s purpose may lie in the ring, but Frazer’s philanthropic
goals are still on his mind. He already has future Olympian
etched on his name and realises the effect he has on the
young, especially from his hometown.
“I was speaking to some guys from my year. There weren’t
too many talks in assemblies from guest speakers when
we were at school. Doing it myself, I had hundreds of
messages from kids thanking me, assuring me they’ll
knuckle down and work hard. One kid told me he had low
self-esteem. I looked at his Instagram and he was a super
talented artist! I want to act more like a role model.”
All eyes and minds are on Tokyo. Vapouround know how to pick
the winners, and our bet is on Frazer Clarke to continue carrying
the torch and raising the standard.
“I’VE DONE IT. I’VE
MADE EVERYONE
PROUD – THE COACH,
THE COUNTRY, MY
SPONSORS. BUT IT’S
A STEPPING STONE,
I’M NOWHERE NEAR
WHERE I WANT TO BE.”