Clinton 'The Sheriff' Jackson

Clinton 'The Sheriff' Jackson

From Nashville, Tennessee

A highly decorated amateur, who was 'labeled' as a can't miss professional.

A smart boxer, with a southpaw stance. Clint had 'terrific' power in both
hands, and was 'well-schooled' with a vast amount of experience.

Was a little old when he turned professional in August 1979 at age 25, and
was prediced to win a 154 lb. Light-Middleweight Championship by late-1981.

Scored '10' straight wins with {8 KO's} by May 1981, and was already
ranked as the #9 WBA Light-Middleweight.

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Mr. Baltazar,,,,,

Yes, stayed a little too long in the amateurs.

Ace Miller trained him for his first '10-bouts'.

In April 1981, Clinton had a falling out with Ace Miller, and broke away when he
said he wasn't moving him fast enough.

Ace had only gotten 'The Sheriff' '3-bouts' in 1-year.

 

Mr. B,

I remember seeing Clinton Jackson at the 1976 Olymoics, and he was a
supposed 'Lock' to win the (67 Kg) Welterweight Division.

The one guy that the U.S. Boxing Team was worried about was the Cuban -
Emilio Correa.

But luck seemed to go Clinton's way, when the Cuban got 'upset' and KO'd
by Venezuelan - Pedro Gamarro in the Third Round Eliminations.

Clinton then drew the Venezuelan in the Quarter-Finals -

And, he got 'nipped' by a 3:2 Split-Decision.

The '5' Judges had the 3-Round bout 'All Even', but Judge #3
had the final say, and awarded his vote to Pedro Gamarro.

I remember the TV interview, and Clinton was so hurt by the scoring, he
couldn't believe that he had lost. He felt that he let the Boxing Team down.
He was really upset.

 

Mr. Baltazar,

Yes, they stop the 'action' too much, and destroy the flow of a 3-Round Bout.

On the scoring of the Clinton Jackson vs Pedro Gamarro - Welterweight Quarter-Final bout.

Judge 1 - 60-59 (1-0-2) - in Rounds for Clinton Jackson)
Judge 2 - 60-58 (2-0-1) - in Rounds for Clinton Jackson)
Judge 3 - 59-59 (1-1-1) - 'Even'
Judge 4 - 60-59 (1-0-2) - in Rounds for Pedro Gamarro)
Judge 5 - 60-58 (2-0-1) - in Rounds for Pedro Gamarro)

Talk about 'subjective' scoring of a 3-Round bout, using the 20-point system per round.

Judge 3 ('unnamed' by the Olympic Committee) over-ruled the Draw, by awarding a (+) to Pedro Gamarro.

 

May 7, 1981

ESPN - Thursday Night Fight

10-Round Light-Middleweight Bout

Clinton Jackson 10-0-0 {8 KO's) vs. Tony Braxton 7-0-1 {2 KO's}

The 27 year-old - Clinton Jackon, takes on advancing 'club-fighter' Camden,
New Jersey's 25 year-old - Tony Braxton (brother of Dwight Muhammad Qawi).

On paper, it looks like the more experienced Clinton Jackson shouldn't have a
problem with Tony Braxton.

But, after boxing nicely over the first 4-Rounds, Clinton starts to 'load up' and
try to knock Tony out, by winging hard right hooks and straight left hands.

It is a foolish move, as Jackson has won every round, and looks to be cruising
for a Decision win.

Tony, who knows he can't match Clinton in power, lays back and counter-punches,
while showing a sturdy chin, as several punches bounce off his jaw.

By Round 7, it appears that Clinton has 'punched' himself out, and he now has
nothing behind his 'arm only' punches.

In Round 8, sensing that Clinton has 'gassed out', Tony starts to open up with straight
right hands on the southpaw Jackson, driving him backwards into the ropes. By the
end of the round, Jackson returns to his corner on wobbling legs, and is completely
exhausted.

Coming out for Round 9, Jackson unloads everything he has for 20-seconds, but
burns up what little energy he had left. Tony counters, by dropping in hard right hands to
the head, which staggers Jackson back into the ropes again. There, Braxton drops
right hand after right hand on a defenseless Jackson, where upon the Referee jumps
in and stops it, awarding Tony Braxton a TKO 9 victory.

Aftermath;

Clinton Jackson's cornermen should be blamed for the loss, as after Clinton 'easily' won
the first 4-Rounds, they pushed him to go after the knockout, when he went out for
Rounds 5, 6 and 7. He burned himself up, going after the 'rock-jawed' Tony Braxton.

Had Clinton just stayed in the 'groove', he would have cruised to a 10-Round Decision
victory.

Tony Braxton, a classic stand-up boxer, just boxed patiently over the first 7-Rounds, and
waited for his opening on an opponent who was burning himself up.

 

June 1982

'The Sheriff' - Did rebound following the 'disaster' (L TKO 9) to Tony Braxton in May 1981.

Jackson won '8-straight' including (6 KO's) over the next year, improving to 18-1-0 (14 KO's),
and earning a #3 Light-Middleweight ranking.

But the chances of landing a World Light-Middleweight bout with WBA Champion - Davey Moore
or WBC Champion - Wilfred Benitez were 'slim-to-none' for the 28 year-old southpaw, as he was
deemed 'too dangerous'.

 

June 20, 1982

.......'The 'Sheriff' takes on 'The Animal'...........

#3 Light-Midleweight - Clinton Jackson 18-1-0 (14 KO's)
vs.
#4 Middleweight - Frank Fletcher 14-2-1 (10 KO's)

Clinton couldn't get any decent money fights at Light-Middleweight, and was forced to go take
on 'The Animal', on an NBC Sportsworld bout for the USBA Middleweight Championship.

Clinton took the bout as a 'money only reason', and was not going to campaign as a Middleweight,
even if he beat 'The Animal' for the USBA Championship.

Out-weighed by 5 lbs., 'The Sheriff' (5' 11" and 154 lbs.) nails Frank Fletcher (5' 7" and 159 lbs.)
several times with right hooks and straight lefts, which buckles Fletchers legs, but he can't
land the finisher.

A couple of times, 'The Animal' is stunned and looks out on his feet, but Frank has the courage
of a Lion, and comes back with his own sharp punches every time he gets rocked.

'The Animal' is stronger down the stretch, as he mauls 'The Sheriff' over the last few rounds by
throwing punches in bunches, to earn the hard-fought 12-Round Decision.

A Good Fight...

 

Yes, it was really a great fight...... 'A War'.

The 'loss' actually helped Clinton Jackson's 'stock', though that 12-Round 'Battle' may have taken alot out 'The Sheriff'.

 

After the loss to Frank 'The Animal' Fletcher in June 1982

Clinton 'The Sheriff' Jackson went on a '5-bout' winning streak, including
Television Victories over;

* (W Dec 10).....Robbie Sims
* (W Dec 10).....Wilbur Henderson
* (KO 10)..........J.J. Cottrell

At the end of 1982, 'The Sheriff' was 23-2-0 (17 KO's), and by February 1983
he was ranked as the #2 WBA Light-Middleweight.

By March 1983, Clinton was 'next' in-line, behind #1 WBA Tony Ayala Jr.