Frazer Clarke: I survived terrorist attack and stabbing – lucky to be alive

It’s been six years since the Westminster Bridge terrorist attack, but it still seems like yesterday to Fraser-Clark.

The boxer was in the Houses of Parliament that day in 2017 when a van rode onto the pavement nearby. was a witness.

“We heard a loud bang. [saw] A policeman and a man with two knives,” recalls Clark, who was an amateur hopeful to win a heavyweight bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. “PC Keith Palmer, God rest his soul, died on the floor in front of me after people tried to resuscitate him. A devastating father, devastating to the country, devastating to London, devastating to all the families who died on that bridge.

“I’m in my 30s now, I have two beautiful kids and it changes the way I see the world. I actually boxed the day after this, but if you ask me if I can do it now, I probably can’t.”

Next Wednesday, the attack’s sixth anniversary, and Clarke, who was in the Houses of Parliament conducting a Q&A session on English boxing, is still living what he saw that day.

“I can’t believe it was six years ago. It seems like yesterday,” he told Telegraph Sport. And I remember it being a terrible time for the city and country.”

“There are many people who are less fortunate than me.”

A boxer’s life is inherently dangerous, but Clarke, who faces Rydell Booker in Saturday’s sixth professional bout, comes closer than most. In 2016, he himself became the victim of an unprovoked attack while celebrating the birth of his daughter in his hometown of Burton, after being stabbed twice in the leg and once in the neck. , he almost died.

“It’s traumatic,” Clark says. “I am one of the lucky ones. As I sit here talking to you, what I see on the news and on social media is that a lot of people are not as lucky as I am. only.”

Clark may have survived, but he’s hardly optimistic about the future.”[Knife crime] This is a problem that we will never get rid of,” he adds. “We just need to raise awareness about all this. , was involved in keeping him away from his father and family.

“I was lying in a hospital bed with my mother and father. My mother was crying. My father was holding me down while people were playing with my neck and legs. ”

Clark pauses. “I will always do whatever I can. If I can spread a message to one person, to a confused youth, or to a human being, I will do it,” he claims.

If those were the moments that shaped Clarke, it’s what’s happening now that defines him. He lashes out at critics who claim he hasn’t fought the character yet.

“Everyone likes to complain about my slowness, my opponents, but I’m not doing the same thing as Joshua and Fury and all the heavyweights before them,” Clark said. says.

Clark admits Booker has “taken a big step” and he’s not wrong.The American is a 35-time contest veteran.He fought Jermaine Franklin ten times Anthony Joshua’s next opponentand Otto Warin, who left Tyson Fury in 2019 for a cut above his right eye that required 47 stitches.

a dangerous opponent.

“If I can make a statement, it’s impressive, but I’m not stupid enough to think I’m Mike Tyson and I’m going to blow this guy out in a round or two.

“He’s been war hardened and has been through some tough times in his life, which makes him a tough character in and out of the ring. My job is to go out there and win and act like a pro.”

“Come on, you two are millionaires.”

In a big month for the British heavyweight scene, Clarke chose former British teammate Joe Joyce to “stop after six rounds” against China’s Jiray Chan at the Copperbox in London, with Joshua clinching a I expect to beat Franklin.

But there’s one big hole in The Division’s upcoming schedule. Fury v Oleksander Usyk. Negotiations continue for the match, which will likely take place at Wembley on 29 April, and Clarke has admitted he is disappointed that a deal has yet to be signed.

“I’m not surprised. I’m disappointed,” he says. “We have two of the world’s leading heavyweights, guys people want to see and respect. Just like AJ and Fury don’t get along, if they don’t get along, there’s no hope. What other departments have you entered?

“If we can’t play the biggest game in the world, we’re all in trouble. Come on, you’re already billionaires. Get your heads together and go for it.”

Fraser-Clark will take on Rydell Booker live on Sky Sports on Saturday, March 25th.