FRAZER CLARKE got his professional career off and running by battering fan-turned-fighter Jake Darnell.
As late as Wednesday Team GB’s 2020 Olympic bronze winner was desperate for an opponent to help him make his pro bow at the Manchester Arena, after a decorated amateur career.
Then 0-1 Blackpool slugger Darnell stumbled across the Trafford Centre media workout and called his manager looking for a ticket to see Saturday’s Amir Khan vs Kell Brook headline clash.
Darnell got a call back to tell him that he could get one of the best seats in the house IF he agreed to take on the 6ft 6in Burton giant live on Sky Sports an hour before.
And – in true tough-guy fashion – Darnell grabbed the challenge and took on the powerhouse for a couple of minutes before his team threw in the towel when he was getting peppered with unanswered shots.
Clarke said: “No disrespect to my opponent but he was probably a soft touch.
“I had other opponents lined up but they all had to pull out over covid or travel restrictions so I am grateful that he stepped up.
“I tried not to rush because I still have a long way to go, this is just the start of the journey.
“I have been thinking and dreaming about my debut for 12 years so it was great.”
Big Fraze, the dignified understudy to Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce in Team GB’s heavyweight ranks for almost a decade, got the job done in ruthless fashion.
But fans will want to see the Only Fools and Horses superfan step against better-prepared opposition soon.
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
