CREAM OF THE CROP
…but boxer Clarke says plants can power him to glory at Tokyo Olympics
OLYMPIC hopeful Cheavon Clarke plans to punch his way to Tokyo powered by plants.
The Kent amateur heavyweight, 30, was born and raised in the land of jerk chicken before moving to England aged 10.
He boxed for Jamaica at the 2014 Commonwealth Games before switching his allegiance to his adopted homeland.
And now, prompted by questionable farming and a Netflix documentary, vegan Clarke wants to prove the future is green.
“Growing up in Jamaica we used to have our own produce – chicken, cows, goats, bees, honey, all of that,” he said. “And without going into detail, I saw my grandfather handling business.
“At GB Boxing I used to have chicken every single day, but when I was buying one the breast had a needle hole in it and there was a white vein hanging out of it.
“I knew it wasn’t supposed to look like that and after it happened three or four times I said I was done with chicken.
“The boys said I’d never stop eating it but I watched The Game Changers and I was done. I stopped eating chicken and meat.
“In Jamaica, the Rastafarian community doesn’t eat meat, they’re basically vegan and live off the land, so it was easy for me. You season your food the same way – people get confused with seasoning and what meat tastes like. If you cook meat without seasoning it you won’t like it.
“The nutritionist has spoken to me about it and he’s made his point but I haven’t felt any difference in my performance.”
Clarke, from Gravesend, was forced to put his Olympic dream on hold because of coronavirus and only returned to action in February.
He now has his sights set on the final European qualifier in Paris in June ahead of the rearranged Games in Tokyo in late summer.
“We’ve been quite fortunate because the guys have put together a plan that means we’re safe and can still train for the Games,” he added.
“It’s been a challenge but as athletes and as people you take on the challenge, you level up and do what you have to do to achieve.
“The goal is to win an Olympic gold medal and the journey is just character-building.”