ROBERT MCCRACKEN WANTS TO BEAT BEIJING IN 2012 BOXING OLYMPICS

Daily Express - Niall Hickman19th November, 2009

OLYMPIC boxing chief Robert McCracken has a simple, specific, straightforward goal for the London 2012 games - beat last year's Beijing medals count.

Former middleweight world title contender McCracken was appointed Great Britain performance director a fortnight ago with the clear aim to better the three-medal haul last year, when James DeGale won gold and Tony Jeffries and David Price took bronze.

That was Britain's best tally in the modern era but McCracken hopes to improve on it and believes he has the talent pool at his disposal to do so.

"The ability is there, no doubt about it," said McCracken. "My job is to co-ordinate everything in the right direction and the right way and to try to do better than Beijing.

"It is a fantastic job and I felt very privileged when I was asked. Now it all boils down to three years of very, very hard work. Anyone who knows me will tell you I don't do things by half.

"If I am going to do a job I give it absolutely 100 per cent and that's what I will deliver up to the London games."

As a fighter, Brummie McCracken belonged in the highest class and for many years since hanging up his gloves in 2000 he has been considered one of Britain's finest coaches.

Although he has already started his new job, McCracken will continue to train world super-middleweight champion Carl Froch as well as John O'Donnell and Lenny Daws.

"It won't be a problem at all," said McCracken. "My relationship with those three fighters is very strong and they all said it was a fantastic move for me . They are very proud.

"I'm very excited about it. We have always had so much natural talent in this country and now we have some of the best facilities in the world in Sheffield.

"The incentive for any young fighter could not be greater. Nothing gets any higher than the Olympic Games and the fact that it is also in London makes it even more special.

"For any young fighter, that has got to be an amazing reward if they work hard enough at boxing. Also, as we have seen in the past, Olympics can turn fighters into stars almost overnight."

McCracken has the benefit of a near 10-year career in the professional ranks to pass on to his young proteges and Britain could have a maximum of 10 men and three women fighting in the Games in three years.

Two of the eight who made it to Beijing, Bradley Saunders and Khalid Yafai, will be available for London and recent amateur results suggest Britain could have their strongest team since the war.

There will be no short cuts to success, though.

McCracken knows from his own experience that only hard work and absolute dedication will be enough to earn medals.

"Let's face it, boxing is a tough game," he said.

"There are no easy ways to win anything in boxing and the fighters know that. If they don't, I'll make sure they do.

"All the young boxers in this country know they have a great chance on the horizon and they will get plenty of help, encouragement and support along the way.

"It does mean an awful lot of hard work but boxing has been my life since I was a nipper so this is no different.

"All of it will be very much worthwhile if we can get as many youngsters as possible on the podium - and the talent is definitely there."

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