ROB McCRACKEN has been reaffirmed as one of the greatest British coaches in Tokyo. However, he does not intend to leave the amateur ranks.
The 53-year old former middleweight travelled back to Japan to meet with Anthony Joshua before he faced Oleksandr Usyk in his WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight defense.
Rob McCracken guided Joshua from amateur star into professional heavyweight champion
McCracken is not content with the pay, but the six medals he won at the 2020 Games have only made him more determined to do it again in Paris.
McCracken stated that Olympic boxing was like riding a rollercoaster before, during and after each contest. It's not good for your health.
"But I like working with the team. The boxers are incredible. It's an honor to be in this position.
"The coaches, boxers and staff at GB are amazing. I will do my best and be there for GB. I'm happy with my current role and will continue until I am fired.
"When I arrived in London in 2009, I was staring at London and wondering: 'How can we do that? Can we form teams? Can we get medals at the London Games?
"Three Olympics later we are not done yet, the Olympics continue to be held.
"I'm here for as long as GB needs me. It's an amazing thing to be part of.
It's a very challenging situation, but one that I have enjoyed and managed to cope with."
McCracken insists that the team's impressive performance in Tokyo was not a fluke and has been a long time coming.
He said, "The uncertainty of the past 15 months has been hard for everyone.
"But the talent was always there in this team.
"Frazer Clarke was there 12 years, Pat McCormack 8 years, Ben Whittaker 6 years, Lauren Price 5 years.
"If they are talented and you have the time to work with them," boxers can accomplish great things. This is exactly what they did in Tokyo.
McCracken never stands still. Next, it's back to Sheffield for final preparations for Joshua’s September 25 match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
He stated, "AJ is extremely experienced now.
"It will be seven weeks before I return to the Usyk fight.
"So, he'll be in a perfect place. The preparation will be perfect.
The next five weeks of training can be flawless. It all worked out really well.
