Here's some footage Steve Lott uploaded showing a 17-year-old Mike Tyson sparring with then undefeated Jimmy Clark (who was the top U.S. amateur when he turned pro after the 1980 Olympic boycott). Looks like Clark didn't know what he was getting into when he agreed to spar with Tyson. Clark announces before the third round that this is "the last round." Excellent footage. Both guys do well. But Tyson is so fast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNJwWWdCuVw Of course, the ever-present Cus D'Amato and Kevin Rooney are hovering nearby.
Clark was a top amateur,but by the time he turned pro.Both Frazier and Tubbs had passed him.Interesting that he sparred Tyson.
Thanks for that. Clarke seemed to be a good fighter. Do you speak to Steve Lott? Id love to hear from him how the Tyson/Holyfield sparring session really went as ive read 2 different accounts. While watching that video you can almost see how Holyfield developed his game plan to beat Tyson 96
Jimmy Clark was a very good amateur boxer. As a pro, he was pretty good, too. Last I read about Clark, after retiring from boxing, he went to law school, became a lawyer, and he was running for district judge in his home state. So, he turned out better than most of his peers from that era. He definitely knew his way around the ring. He did fine in that sparring session, considering he clearly didn't know anything about Tyson before he stepped in the ring with him.
He was a good fighter. His bouts with Teofilo Stevenson are on YouTube. Tyson looks so small against Clark, and Clark looks small against Stevenson. I wonder what Tyson would've looked like against Stevenson?
Jimmy Clark was 28 yrs old here and had been a pro for a few years. He was in his physical prime - and Tyson has no problem hanging with him. Tyson was very physically mature for a 17 yr. old. Clark didn't pan out as a pro. He turned pro relatively late in 1981 and though undefeated until 1985, scanning his record it appears he had trouble getting meaningful fights. I surmise he didn't have great management. His first and only loss was to the capable Reggie Gross via 9th round stoppage. Gross held a ko win over Bert Cooper and was stopped by Tyson before going to prison on a murder rap. Here is a good article on Clark http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Ken/Hissner113009.htm
Clark waited too long to turn pro.All his contemporaries, the Dokes, Pages, and Tubbs and even Greens surpassed him.He was robbed of at least two of the Stevenson fights, and the other one you could make a case as well.
