Henry Clark 'The West Coast Cassius Clay'

February 2, 1969

The Stadium - Liverpool, United Kingdom

Henry Clark (one month shy of 24), pounds the 34 year-old Britsh Heavyweight,
veteran - Brian London all over the ring, only to get 'shocked' by Referee - George Smith
who rules the 10-Rounder a 'Draw'.

Clark, now 16-4-3, staggered London in the '1st-Round', and sliced a cut over his
left-eye with a 'razor-tracer' right hand. By the rounds end, London's face was covered with blood.

The American battered the British fighter in Rounds 2 and 3, opening another cut on
London's left cheekbone with a powerful left hand.

In Round 4, Clark took advantage of London (214 lbs.) as his added weight slowed
the veteran down. Clark rocked London with a right-hand, that had the 'Blackpool Rock'
dazed, and reeling. Near the end of the round, Clark landed a big left hook to the chin,
as London staggered back near helpless as the bell sounded.

In Round 5, the suprisingly light Clark (201 lbs.) ripped in the harder punches, as
London's face was a 'crimson mask'.

The 6' 3" 'Gunslinger' spent the last '5-rounds' peppering London from long-range with
left hands, as he had his right-hand loaded, looking for the finisher.

The 34 year-old London (now 37-17-1), countered with lefts and short right hands, but was not able
to score with any effective blows, as he was able to hold steady with his younger opponent.

Referee George Smith scored the bout a Draw with each fighter registering a 49 1/4 score.

Britsih Sports-writers called it a horrible decision.

Henry Clark, 'If that was a Draw, then Germany won World War II.'

Willie Ketchum, Henry Clark's Manager, 'If this bout were held anywhere else they would
have stopped it in the 5th Round. London was a bloody mess. I can't see the Referee
scoring more than 1 Round for London. My fighter won every exchange for God's sake.'

 

April 1969

Oakland Tribune

'Henry Clark is one of the better heayweights out there. With Cassius Clay gone,
Henry adds some flavor to the 'dull' division. A little style and a little punch, he
makes for a little excitement, than the slow plodders out there.'

Two-nights laters, Henry Clark stopped the durable and iron-chinned New York
Heavyweight, Bob Stallings.

 

Tuesday Night - July 15, 1969

Convetion Hall - Miami Beach, Florida

San Francisco Heavyweight - 'The Gunslinger' Henry Clark was edged out by a
10-Round Majoriy Decision to local Florida Heavyweight - Al Jones.

Henry Clark, at 6' 3" and 217 lbs. had a hard time reaching the 6' 6" Jones, who had
a difficlut southpaw stance to break through. Clark, who fell behind early, after absorbing
hard right jabs and left uppercuts thru the first '5-Rounds', re-adjusted in Round 6.

After an 'Even' 6th Round, Clark utilized sharp left hands and follow-up quick right hands
starting in Round 7, and continued that pattern in Rounds 8 and 9.

Clark, was able to take control over the 230 lb. Jones in the second-half of the bout,
who seemed to fade a bit after a busy first 5-Rounds.

In the 'final round', both Heavyweights landed good punches in an attempt to swing
the 10th-Round in their favor.

Scorecards;
Referee, Eddie Eckert.........95-95 (Even)
Judge, Jim Ruby................96-94 (Al Jones)
Judge, Bob Eiseman...........96-95 (Al Jones)

The 24 year-old Henry Clark, who was the #8 WBA Heavyweight, now falls to 17-5-3.

The 29 year-old Al Jones, handled by Angelo Dundee improved to 27-1-1.

Henry Clark,,,, 'Strictly a hometown decision. It was all my fight after the 5th-Round, as Al
did nothing. At worst, I expected a Draw. I'm sure they're going to use this victory over
me to get Jones a 'Title Shot' against Joe Frazier.'

Angelo Dundee,,,,, 'We'd like Joe Frazier right now. I'm going to make him an offer to fight
Al down here in Florida.'

 

August 18, 1969

Madison Square Garden - New York

The once talented 24 year-old 'west coast' Heavyweight - Henry Clark's career has
now stalled, following an 8-Round Majority Decision loss to 'new' promising Heavyweight
21 year-old - Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt, now 11-1-0.

Clark saw his record drop to 17-6-3, with his 'second straight' close Decision loss.

Henry (218 lbs.) seemed to have everything going his way in Round 1, as he stunned
the 6' 5" 208 lb. Merritt, and had him on wobbling legs for the full-round.

But by Round 4, Clark was fighting 'backing up' permitting the hard-hitting Heavyweight
to land long left hooks, and take control of the bout.

Henry put on a brief rally in Round 7, to 'even the bout. But in the 'final round' Merritt resumed
control and scored with solid punches to win the round, and seal the victory.

Scorecards; { 4-3-1 / 4-3-1 / 4-4-0 }

Clark, once ranked as high as the #5 WBA Heavyweight and #9 by Ring Magazine, has
now fallen to edge of the Top 15 Heavyweights.

Manager, Joe Herman and Richard Clark (Henry's brother and trainer). 'We need to
change his fighting pattern. Henry looks so good in the gym, but as soon as he gets in
the ring, he doesn't want to fight aggressively. He starts to try to act like Cassius Clay,
by dancing and jabbing, and clowning. That is no way to fight. He gave the last round
away, and the fight with it.'

 

Henry 'The Gunslinger' Clark

Following the 'loss' to Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrit, Henry bounced back with '4-straight' wins, including -

Thursday Night - July 23, 1970

The Olympic Auditorium

Henry defeated 'knock-out artist'- 6' 2" 218 lbs. -Jimmy 'The King' Fletcher 20-7-3 (16 KO's)
in defense of his California State Heavyweight Championship.

Henry boxing safely over the 'first 5-Rounds', patiently waits for Jimmy 'The King' to punch
himself out, and pours it on over the last 4-Rounds, including driving Fletcher through the
ropes in the 'final round', to win a 'convincing' 12-Round Unanimous Decision.

Scorecards {8-4-0 / 7-4-1 / 7-5-0}

The 25 year-old Henry Clark, posting a record of 21-6-3 (7 KO's), put his ring career on 'temporary hold',
as he received a call from Muhammad Ali with a request for his services.

In August 1970, he was aked to be a 'hired gun' for comebacking former Heavyweight Champion - Muhammad Ali.

In mid-August 1970, Henry went to Miami Beach -

In an early-September 1970 in a sparring session with 'Muhammad Ali' 'The Gunslinger' out-boxed the former
Champion over a 7-Round session in front of 700 on-lookers, embarrasing the former Champion.

Clark was brought back the 'next day', and the the result was the same.

The next-day, Henry Clark was asked to leave.

 

Henry went back to San Franciso,,,,,,,,

During late-1970 and early-1971,

And started a boxing club for young amateur boxers, as well
as served as a sparring partner for Ken Norton and Mac Foster.

 

The 'best' California State Heavyweight Championhsip bouts.

Henry Clark vs Jack O'Halloran

 

young griffo,

Actually, Orville 'Big Boy' Qualls floored Muhammad Ali in a Detroit Boxing Exhibition at Cobo Hall
in 1968, and Muhammad called a halt to the bout, stating that he was 'dizzy' and unable to continue.
He claimed that he was 'accidentally' thumbed in the eye.