The devastating LaMar Clark, who holds the greatest KO% in heavyweight history with 43 KO's in 44 big wins and once KO'd 6 men in one night, facing a young Ali: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1TBZXtFsAU[/ame] Ali tastes Clark's insanely powerful left hook 1:32 into the video. This content is protected Prime Clark in his trademark pose, standing over flattened opponent: This content is protected More proof of Ali's greatness how he could take on this beast in just his 6th pro fight. This content is protected This content is protected
Especially impressive is how after Ferron Barr showed him up by going into the second round the first time they fought, Clark rededicated himself in the gym to stop Barr in one round in the rematch 10 days later. I'm also intrigued by the fact that they started scheduling his fights for 8 rounds later in his career. What's the point in that?
There was actually a trilogy between Clark and Barr. The first bout ended in a first round KO but must have left a lot of questions unanswered as to who was the better man hence fights 2 and 3. It says something about Ali that his management felt that he was up to facing the Undisputed Intermountain Heavyweight Champion so early in his career,a man with an astonishing 30 first round knockouts. One things for sure a prospect wouldn't be put in with a man of Lamar Clarks unquestioned bona fides these days.
Amazing footage and thanks for posting it but of course you realize how misleading Clark's record was ... padded agaist journeymen at best is to put it mildly ...
"U S A" is a strange, surreal thing to see within the side stripes of the GOAT's trunks, considering the issues he'd later have with that government.
I take a contrary view. Ferron Barr who Clark bested 3 times was an ex professional wrestler (who wrestled under the name of Eric the Great so he must've been good) which means Clark was tangling with the forebears of todays mixed martial artists which just shows the mans balls. Yes Clark did meet and defeat 25 men who had never fought professionally (or probably amateur) before but to me that shows tremendous courage. How do you prepare for someone that nobodies ever seen before? How do you know that the opponent they found for you at the local soup kitchen hasn't been in hard training for years for such an opportunity? Some people may be critical of Clark fighting college kids and hobo's but after all wasn't Jack Dempsey a hobo once too? No soft touches for Lamar imo.
And Bonecrusher Smith was a college GRADUATE. I think Clark was way ahead of his time, seeking out a young Bonecrusher in the college ranks even though it wasn't in his best interest. Furthermore, Barr wasn't his only outing against a pro wrestler. Clark was obviously completely without fear: This content is protected
Bottom line is that Clark got his name in the Guinness Book of World Records for his knockout streak, a fixture in their boxing pages for decades. (Is he still in there? I haven't cracked open an updated edition in years.)
