Cheavon Clarke’s confidence is sky-high after his performance at the World Boxing Championships in Russia.

The Gravesend heavyweight won his first two bouts before losing to Russian fighter Muslim Gadzhimagomedov in the quarter-finals.

His conqueror would go on to take the 91kg crown in Ekateringburg but Clarke knew he was on a hiding to nothing.

He said: “I’m feeling really good – I feel like I’m the best in the world.

“I put in a great performance but to beat a Russian, in Russia, you’ve got to knock him out.

“I’m the only guy who gave the Russian a good fight. He outclassed everybody else but he struggled against me.

“It should have been the final but it was a really good tournament for me and the coaches were happy.”

Clarke is already thinking about next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

European qualifying takes place at the Copperbox, in London, in March and the 28-year-old is ready to earn a place in the Great Britain squad.

He said: “They’ve rejigged the whole process so if you don’t qualify in London, there’s also world qualifying in Paris.

“I’m determined to get the job done in London. These are exciting times and I’m feeling really positive.

“As a lad from Gravesend, I want to show people you can achieve whatever you want if you work hard enough.”

Clarke would like to thank sponsors Hy-Scaff Scaffolding Services, Sian Formwork and Fast Labor Solutions.

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