By Rob Tebbutt
FRAZER Clarke, long-time novice team-mate and good friend to each Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai, is torn forward of the pair’s flyweight tussle this weekend in Birmingham.
An Olympic bronze medallist on the Tokyo 2020 video games again in ’21, Clarke established himself as one of many world’s high amateurs throughout a more-than-decade-long stint as a part of Crew GB’s nationwide set-up in Sheffield.
He would function captain of the lads’s boxing crew for the Tokyo video games, wherein his roommate, none aside from Galal Yafai, grabbed gold within the males’s 52kg flyweight class.
On the Edwards-Yafai press convention in Birmingham, BN discovered itself able to choose the mind of a kind of closest to the beating coronary heart of a battle billed as ‘Bloodline’.
“I’m anticipating a superb battle,” Clarke advised BN.
“I’ve mentioned this a couple of occasions. What folks received’t know is me and Charlie Edwards, that was my greatest good friend in boxing for a few years. [We] shared a room collectively, had some nice occasions world wide collectively, however clearly, time strikes on, and he’s nonetheless my good friend. Good pals.
“I’ve identified Sunny since he was this massive [gestures to knee height]. I knew the Dad, knew the entire household connection. It was sound. The mum, the sister, every little thing – however Galal’s my household, are you aware what I imply?
“Galal’s my brother, man. Galal is aware of my youngsters, my missus, [we had] our Olympic journey collectively, thick and skinny, ups and downs. We communicate to one another most weeks, a few occasions per week, so clearly I’m supporting Galal. I’m supporting them each, to be truthful. It’s an ideal battle.
“I mentioned it looks like a heavyweight occasion with some small fellas main the cost, so I’m joyful for that.”
With a lot of the pre-fight dialogue specializing in Edwards and Yafai’s familiarity in sparring, it was one other spar – and sparring companion, specifically – that left an impression on ‘Large Fraze’ after a current journey to Sheffield to see Yafai put the ultimate touches on his preparation.
“I watched Galal’s final spar. Final week, I went to Sheffield to observe him together with his brothers. He sparred a Mexican fella who he fought earlier than, who’s fucking good fighter, by the way in which. Come over and was giving him [Yafai] some correct work.
“The Mexican was about 10 kilos heavier, as a result of he’s been been consuming like a King!” Clarke laughed. “Galal’s fucking fuming over the meals invoice! You recognize, he’s put every little thing on the invoice – he’s fucking consuming steaks and all types! He’s good, mate. He’s a correct good fighter.”
When requested for his keys to victory for each males, Clarke pointed to the relentless work-rate of Yafai as a possible deciding issue within the battle and, whereas recognising the skill-set of Edwards, famous that the previous IBF flyweight champion’s lack of punching energy may show to be his undoing.
“Sunny has the expertise. He’s artful and he’s cute,” mentioned Clarke.
“He [Edwards] goes to need to be at his greatest to compete. Not skill-wise, pay attention, I do know he’s very skilful, however this man [Yafai]’s engine, his health, his toughness, his dedication. In professional boxing, that’s sufficient.”
“I’m unsure he [Edwards] can damage Galal. I’m not saying he received’t, [but] we’ve by no means actually seen that from him. In the event you can’t damage Galal, he ain’t leaving you alone for fucking 12 rounds, mate. He’s not leaving you alone!
“He [Yafai] may take a pair on the way in which in, on the way in which out, but when they’re not hurting him, he ain’t going nowhere.”
