Olympics:  Frazer Clarke eager to follow Anthony Joshua’s footsteps

Burton super-heavyweight boxer Frazer Clarke is aiming to claim an Olympic Gold medal like Nigeria born British boxer Anthony Joshua.

Clarke is preparing to turn his dream into reality as he leads 11-strong team of Great Britain boxers to the Tokyo Olympics next month

Clarke was in  Rio five years ago as a sparring partner, mainly for Joe Joyce who went on to claim the silver medal, now he is relishing the chance to write his own name in the domestic history of a division which has yielded famous Gold medals  for Anthony Joshua and Audley Harrison.

Clarke said: “I have dedicated the last 10 years to this and earning the right to represent my country at the Olympic Games, so to finally achieve it is an amazing feeling.

“I was able to go to Rio as a sparring partner and it was good to support the team, but to compete at the Olympics is something I have always wanted.”

The team’s remarkable success at last month’s final qualifying tournament has increased the likelihood of eclipsing the three-medal tally from Rio, where Nicola Adams and Joshua Buatsi also reached the podium.

Pat McCormack, who will joined by his twin brother Luke at the Games for the first time, is clear favourite in the men’s welterweight category, as is reigning world champion Lauren Price at middleweight.

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Price said: “It has been my dream to compete at the Olympic Games since I was eight years old so to finally have the opportunity is amazing, particularly after everything we have had to go through in the last year or so.

“It will be the highlight of my career to-date and I am really looking forward to competing on the biggest stage of all.”

Recall that Anthony Joshua clinched Gold at the London Olympics in 2012