Behind the Lens: Crafting a Personal Sports Documentary with Cheavon Clarke
This was my third road trip with professional boxer Cheavon Clarke and his team. We were flying to Monaco, France, where Cheavon was set to face Frenchman Leonardo Mosquea for the vacant European cruiserweight title. It was an unforgettable experience—but not for the reasons any of us expected.
As a filmmaker specialising in sports mini-documentaries, I know that capturing the action inside the ring is only part of the story. It’s the moments outside of the ring—the quiet conversations, the pre-fight rituals—that add depth and emotion, shaping the journey toward success. Spending time with Cheavon and his inner circle gave me a unique opportunity to craft a more intimate and personal narrative.
Building Trust Behind the Camera
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that the best stories emerge when people feel comfortable. Over the years, I’ve filmed my fair share of weddings, and the biggest compliment is when the bride and groom say they barely noticed you were there—aside from the couple shots, of course!
By our third outing together, I was embedded within Cheavon’s team. This familiarity allowed me to capture honest, unscripted moments that go beyond the usual pre-fight bravado. Whether it was a quiet breakfast conversation or the team’s pre-fight rituals, these personal connections translated directly to the screen.
When the people you’re filming trust you, they open up—and that authenticity is what truly resonates with audiences.
Documenting the Low Moments
This trip to Monaco marked a first for Cheavon—his first professional loss. Filming a fighter during a moment like this requires a delicate touch. The adrenaline fades, the mood shifts, and reality sets in. There’s no celebration, no post-fight buzz—just a raw, emotional aftermath.
A loss like this is painful when you’re fighting for a prestigious title where raw emotion is laid bare, knowing that this emotional honesty would connect with viewers. In those moments, I was not an outsider with a camera—I felt like I was in it with them. The bond we’d built over the previous fights allowed me to capture these vulnerable moments without feeling intrusive.
There’s an art to filming during these quieter periods. It’s not about rushing around to capture every angle—it’s about being present. Sometimes, the most powerful moments happen when you simply sit still and observe. By taking a step back and letting the team process the loss, I was able to capture an authentic, human narrative without disrupting the natural flow of emotion.
In those reflective moments, I wasn’t just documenting a loss—I was documenting resilience. Cheavon’s vulnerability wasn’t a sign of weakness; it was a testament to his strength in the face of adversity.
Finding Liberation in Loss
Ironically, there’s something freeing about telling a losing narrative. When a fighter wins, the story is often straightforward—overcoming the odds and achieving victory. But a loss opens up more complex layers: resilience, reflection, and the determination to come back stronger.
Here I had the opportunity to shape a different kind of narrative—one that was honest, inspiring, and hopeful. Loss forces you to rethink your storytelling approach. When you follow an undefeated athlete, there’s an unspoken pressure to maintain the narrative of invincibility. But when that changes, you get a fresh, more human perspective.
This shift allows viewers to connect on a deeper level. In these moments the audience doesn’t just see a fighter, they see a person confronting disappointment with strength to move forward and that’s a story worth telling.
The Importance of Being Present
One thing that stood out during this trip was the importance of being fully present. It’s easy to get caught up in the technical aspects—framing the shot, adjusting the lighting, monitoring sound—but sometimes, in these moments the audience doesn’t just see a fighter, they see a person confronting disappointment with strength to move forward and that’s a story worth telling. Being a documentary filmmaker is about more than just capturing events—it’s about understanding the emotional landscape. Knowing when to press record and when to hold back is crucial. There were moments I chose not to film because the atmosphere felt too private or too intimate. You develop an instinct for reading a room—sometimes, the right choice is to put the camera down.
The goal isn’t to capture everything—it’s to capture what matters.
Why These Stories Matter
For me, sports mini-documentaries aren’t just about the wins. They’re about the journey, the people, and the stories that unfold when the cameras aren’t focused on the main event. And often, it’s in the moments of loss that the most meaningful stories emerge.
These stories matter because they reveal the full picture. Athletes—no matter how strong or skilled—are human. They face setbacks, doubts, and challenges like everyone else. And when viewers see that, it makes the victories—when they come—even more powerful.
By going on the road with Cheavon Clarke, I not only captured a boxing match—I captured a chapter in his journey. And through that process, I was reminded that the most powerful stories show both the highs and the lows, the triumphs and the setbacks, and the relentless drive to keep going.
Watch the mini documentary below
