Prospect of the Month (January 2024): Cheavon Clarke

2024 has gotten off to a quick start relative to other years. Specifically for up-and-coming prospects. One particular Matchroom card that took place in Belfast, Ireland, highlighted many of the best young up-and-comers on that side of the pond. None of those young upstarts had a bigger and better test than Olympian Cheavon Clarke, who took on and demolished former world title challenger Tommy McCarthy. Clarke took the biggest challenge of his young professional career, and the 33-year-old from Kent, UK, scored the best win of his career, destroying the former world title challenger in four quick rounds, dropping the Irishman and finishing him to moving his record to 8-0 (6), capture the WBA Inter-Continental Cruiserweight title and take home our Prospect of the Month award, plus put the rest of the division on very-short notice.

Clarke went into enemy territory at the Ulster Hall in Belfast and got right to business, shocking the hometown McCarthy with a left hook just moments into the opening stanza. Clarke kept the momentum going in the second round, forcing McCarthy into the ropes and scoring with hooks and uppercuts on the inside. While McCarthy had some moments, Clarke was getting the best of it, and McCarthy seemed content trading on the inside. Clarke scored big towards the end of the third. A right hand sent McCarthy into the corner. Ie became obvious the end was near. Fully aware he had the Irishman wounded, Clarke started the fourth fast, scoring with a right uppercut before another right hand put McCarthy to the mat. The hometown fighter made it to his feet but could offer no resistance. The Olympian teed off on the hurt McCarthy until referee Steve Gray waved off the bout at the 1:28 mark of round four.