Frazer Clarke relying on Joe Gallagher after being lifted from ‘dark place’

Frazer Clarke is gambling on Joe Gallagher to revive his career when on Saturday, against Australia’s Justis Huni, he faces perhaps his toughest test.

The heavyweights fight on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and both enter the contest coming off the back of defeats.

Where the 27-year-old Huni lost for the first time when dramatically stopped by Fabio Wardley when he was convincingly leading on the scorecards, Clarke lost for the second when as the significant favourite against Jeamie Tshikeva he was expected to win.

His defeat that night in November was his second in three fights after Wardley had so damagingly stopped him inside a round. It precipitated his separation from Angel Fernandez and his recruitment of Gallagher. It also, he revealed, left him in a “dark place”.

Huni, too, is fighting for the first time under a new trainer in Josh Arnold, owing to the tragic death of Keri Fui, but he is doing so as the considerably younger, fresher and perhaps more naturally talented fighter, and one who, unlike Clarke, impressed in defeat.

The reality remains that another defeat could end the 34-year-old Clarke’s once promising career, but instead of rebuilding against a lower-risk opponent he is already putting his association with Gallagher to the test. 

“I was in a bad place, no doubt about it,” Clarke told BoxingScene of the aftermath of his defeat by “TKV” Tshikeva. “That was a fight I expected to go in there and win, like I do in every fight, because I work hard and want to do well. It was a hard 12 rounds as well; my tongue was in half, which was in pain for weeks. It was really difficult. It was just before Christmas. Everyone was in high spirits; I was in a real dark place.

“I think I gave [Tshikeva] the fight – I put it in his hands and boxed a way I’d never boxed before. I went out throwing, for whatever reason, and got it wrong on the day. It was still a very close fight. Credit to him – he dragged me into a fight, and on the day I wasn’t switched on enough, for whatever reason.

“I didn’t think [my career] would be over – I just thought the rebuild was gonna be a real difficult one. But from New Year’s Day – I sent a text to Joe and asked if it’d be alright to come to the gym, and I knew from day one that’s exactly what I need. It was the honesty. I’m slowly, slowly getting to where I need to be. You have to prove you deserve to be there.

“I needed a change, and was looking for someone with experience – a disciplinarian – someone I fully respected. I’ve known Joe for a while. ‘We’ll see how we gel.’ It was just the environment of the gym – straight away it was fantastic. Joe’s been calling it ‘The Apollo Gym’, like in Rocky [III]. It’s an old-school gym; some great fighters in there with some great mentalities. I was blown away by the effort and the way that they all listen to Joe. 

“It’s took me a while to get up to speed and I’m still not there yet, but I’m trying every single day. There’s no hiding in there – if you’re not doing the work you’ll get pulled on it in a second. The difference is I’m back with a team. [In Loughborough] I was probably training on my own. I learned from my coach Angel Fernandez but I was just lacking that experience in my corner, and Joe’s got it in abundance. When he speaks, you listen.

“It wasn’t easy [splitting from Fernandez]. I’m a very loyal person. If I’m with you I’m with you 100 per cent. Angel was teaching me a lot and he was fantastic, but coming off that performance against TKV – by the way, I hold my hands up; I’m the one that performed – I could have done with an experienced word in my ear. Angel will get there eventually – he’s a fantastic coach and a fantastic trainer and there’s one thing you can’t get overnight and that’s experience. That’s exactly what I need.”

Clarke believes that his time under Fernandez – once Anthony Joshua’s assistant trainer – was undermined by the departure from the gym at Loughborough University of Richard Riakporhe to work with Billy Nelson.

Riakporhe – who on Saturday on the same promotion fights none other than Tshikeva for the British heavyweight title – remained at cruiserweight while he trained alongside Clarke but his presence and the friendly rivalry between them was something Clarke, formerly of the Team GB amateur system, believes he lost until spending time with Lawrence Okolie under Gallagher.

“I did [miss Riakporhe],” he said. “I was on my own. Subconsciously, without you even knowing, it’s probably taking a little bit away from you.

“I’m in digs with Lawrence Okolie. We’re helping each other out. We’re gonna definitely use that – and [professional cruiserweight] Jack Massey’s been a massive help, the speed of him. There’s a lot of in-house stuff we’re doing, which is brilliant. That presence of Lawrence around – we keep each other very honest. We’re on the track together and then back to the digs together – it really is like taking it back to them days.”

Wardley may since have been crowned WBO champion, but he was considerably rawer on the nights of his contests with Clarke than Huni has long been recognised as, meaning that he potentially represents Clarke’s highest-risk and toughest opponent.

“If you want to get to where you wanna get to you have to fight these people,” the Englishman said. “Justis is a great fighter. I’ve known him for a long time through the amateur system. I was very impressed with how he boxed against Fabio Wardley. But the better fighters bring the best out of me. This is no disrespect to Jeamie, ‘cause he is a great fighter – this is shade on my own name for probably not taking the fight seriously enough. But that fear factor wasn’t there, for whatever reason. Now, I wish it was.

“Justis Huni, I’ve been in the ring with him and sparred him years ago. He was such a talent then. ‘Oh my God, he’s really good.’ When he didn’t go to the [2020] Olympics it was ‘It’s a good job we dodged that one’. But I know how good he is, and I’m fearful of him – I really am. And I understand, I’ve not done too much looking or listening to the radio, but I know I’m a massive underdog. Put our last performances in perspective – he was beating Fabio Wardley [and lost at world level, I lost at British level to him. Someone who lost at world level and someone who lost at British level – it should be a no brainer. But you’d be a fool to sleep on me – that’s all I can tell you. I’ve got the bit between my teeth. I know what he’s good at; I know what I’m good at. I know what I have to improve on, and I know what I have to capitalise on with him. It’s up to me to do that. 

“He’s got very fast hands. Good punch output. Very good feet. He’s a bit of an all-rounder – an exceptional fighter. But I do see things I can capitalise on. A lot of people think I beat [Wardley] in that first fight. In this environment the best will come against this kind of opponent. 

“He got put over towards the end of his last fight. I don’t want to talk too much about his weaknesses but I do see things I can capitalise on. If it all clicks, there’s no reason [I] can’t beat Justis Huni.

“[Gallagher’s] a perfectionist and a tactician. He has no qualms in stopping sparring and telling you where you’re going wrong. Not embarrassing you. [But] he’s not going to sing your praises if you’re not doing what you’re asked.”