Cheavon Clarke Aware of Ellis Zorro Threat After Being Burned by Jai Opetaia

Cheavon Clarke will finally contest the British cruiserweight title against Ellis Zorro in Leeds, England, on Saturday, allowing him to challenge for the vacant title. 

Clarke-Zorro will serve as chief support for the anticipated rematch between rivals Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall at a sold-out First Direct Arena.

Clarke (8-0, 6 KOs) had been hopeful of securing a tilt at the British title against Isaac Chamberlain after being named the mandatory challenger to the Ben Shalom-promoted Chamberlain. The pair had been embroiled in a public spat towards each other on social media, but no fight between the rivals materialized as Chamberlain vacated the domestic cruiserweight title. 

Clarke, a 2020 Olympian, impressed in January in Belfast against former European titleholder Tommy McCarthy, halting the Irishman inside four rounds to continue his progression and notch the eighth win of his unbeaten career.

Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs), in his last appearance, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Dec. 23, did not fare as well, suffering his first defeat to Jai Opetaia courtesy of a clinical and brutal knockout at the hands of the now two-time IBF cruiserweight titleholder.

Clarke is expecting a dangerous and motivated Zorro, and believes he has a point to prove. 

“There was a lot of going back and forth with the Chamberlain fight,” Clarke said. “We were on the front foot, but they didn’t want the fight, but Ellis and Queensberry have taken it, and now we have a fight.”

“Ellis lost in his last fight, but that’s his business. I’ve got to look at him as a dangerous person, because if I had lost, I’d be thinking, ‘You know what, I’m going to show this lot that I am a big deal.’ So I am looking at him that he’s more dangerous than if he hadn’t lost.

“Expect it to be explosive, to be wild. You could say that this could be the main event – no offense to the other guys.”