Heavyweight preview: Cheavon Clarke can fulfill Tokyo 2020 dream
- Joe Hewlett
- 23 July 2021
Planet Sport looks at the top contenders at heavyweight for Tokyo 2020.
Top seed: Muslim Gadzhimagomedov
According to BoxRec, the 24-year-old has a 81-5 record as an amateur and is on a 45-fight win streak which includes a victory over Team GB's Cheavon Clarke.
In 2019, he won the World Championships and European Games and is favourite to add another medal this summer in Japan.
Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (red) dodges and lands a punch against Wilfried Florentin (blue)
Most talked about: Cheavon Clarke
Possibly the most charismatic fighter at the Olympics this summer. His personality matches his hunger and dedication to succeed under the Team GB banner.
Since being picked by Team GB, Clarke has won a silver medal at the 2017 European Championships as well as bronze at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, 2018 EU Championships in Valladolid and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.
Two to watch: Vassiliy Levit, Julio Cesar La Cruz
In reality, Levit should have won the final against Evgeny Tishchenko but lost via unanimous decision. Most people thought Levit had won all three rounds and claimed it was a robbery.
It will be interesting to see how La Cruz of Cuba gets on in Tokyo. Fast hands, quick head movement and flashy, LA Cruz is a defensive boxer who has an incredible amount of skill.
His record is 218-14 and has only been knocked out once in 14 defeats, losing to Matchroom Boxing's prospect Khalil Coe.
