Cheavon Clarke will face Anthony Holloway in an eight-round cruiserweight bout at the Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, California on Saturday.
After press conference face-offs on Thursday, Clarke, 10-2 (7 KOs), flashed a hand gesture. He explained the meaning.
“My assistant’s mom told me when I get on TV to say hello to her,” Clarke told BoxingScene. “After I did the weigh-in, I did the hand gesture, and I pointed. That is where it came from.”
Clarke said that some people liked it, some questioned it, but given the reaction, he ran with it.
“Some thought I was the Illuminati,” Clarke said with a laugh.
Clarke, a 2020 British Olympian, has hit a rough patch. The 34-year-old from Gravesend, Kent, England, is on a two-fight losing streak. Last December, he hit the canvas in the first round against Leonardo Mosquea and lost a split decision. A little over four months later, Clarke fell to Viddal Riley by unanimous decision.
“People are going to see me as a wounded dog,” Clarke said. “I am going to be rebuilding and getting back to where I should be.”
Clarke is working with decorated trainer Virgil Hunter for this camp in Hayward, California, roughly a one hour and forty-five-minute drive from the venue on fight night. Clarke’s motivation comes from knowing that he came from a rough place. Now, he wishes to motivate others by showing them that it is possible to achieve things.
Moving to the United States for this camp was not intended only to optimize Clarke’s training itself, but to foster the growth he feels he has to make.
“There are plenty of things I can draw on, but we are not looking for comfort here,” Clarke said. “If I wanted to be comfortable, I would still be at home.”
Clarke will face Holloway, 9-9 (7 KOs), a veteran also entering on a two-fight losing streak. Holloway, a 31-year-old from Peoria, Illinois, scored an upset win over unbeaten prospect Sonny McEwen in 2024.
“I had to get to a new level, so I had to become uncomfortable,” Clarke said. “From discomfort comes great things.”
