Clarence Henry: A wrecking ball machine of a puncher?

Henry was an exciting aggressive fighter. You can see why Dempsey liked him so much.

Henry v Marciano would have been a good fight c. 1951

 

Breaks my heart to see Clarence Henry’s name, SQ.

At an induction dinner for the California Hall of Fame in the '90s, I noticed two older black men – one with dark glasses -- sitting on the aisle, midway back, making idle conversation and laughing.

When the ceremony was over, and the room was emptying, the two men were the last to leave. One, an aid, (or a very close friend) helped the man in sun glasses rise, (he was clearly blind) handing him two canes, and he slowly and painfully was led out.

I asked who he was.

“Clarence Henry”

It seemed inconceivable this frail, sightless man was the lithe, picture-punching heavy I’d seen starch Bob Baker in The Garden in the early ‘50s.

 

bump

 

wow, what excelent value these contenders were. what a good division it was.

 

did you have a good seat that night J.G? That must have been some night, how do you think both would have done against marciano?

 

Havta leave now, c. Will get back to you later 'bout Henry, Baker 'n Marciano

 

Very sad. I have one with a happier slant. Back in the early 90s I attended the World Boxing HOF banquet here in LA. I saw Clarence Henry walking through the lobby (he wasn't blind then). At one point during the evening I approached him in order to get him to sign my boxing book, which was loaded with autographs of great fighters. He took my book, looked at all the signatures, grabbed my pen and asked "Do you even know who I am?" as if he was betting that I wouldn't(he probably assumed that this youngster[I was in my 20s] saw a couple old timers ask him for his autograph and was merely following suit).

I said "Sure! You're Clarence Henry! I know about you..." He smiled and seemed very pleased that he was not forgotten and was in fact even known by the younger generation of boxing enthusiasts. He smiled big while he signed my book and I was happy that I was able to give him something in return.

 

thats great. so many hard luck storys out there for fighters who realy were something- fighting amoung the best of their time - that can be forgoten once they return to a mere normal existance in older age. All top fighters who paid their dues in the ring deserve to be remembered.

 

I love Henry's style he would have been a great fight with Marciano...all-action...Henry did lose a SD to Harold Johnson and a wide UD to Archie Moore, shows you how thick Archie's Heavyweight Resume was leading up to Marciano.....Clarence Henry beat a lot of good fighters and only lost to a few ...one of the great action fighters of the day

 

Lovely feel-good story, SB -- much better than my last memory of Henry.

 

Before Henry was blind in one eye ('n even then), he was a thing-a-beauty to watch -- silky smooth 'n lethal -- a CLOSER.

The guy that lost to Hurricane Jackson wasn't even a pale imitation of Henry.

But because Henry's natural inclination was to close the show, not box, think he'd trade with Marciano 'n come out second best.

Seeing Baker in a bout was like seeing a totally different guy than the one that trained at Stillman's gym. At the gym, no matter how hot 'n humid it was, Bob was always bundled in layers of sweat clothes, a towel 'round his neck, rivers of sweat running down his face.

Between rounds, he sat always complaining about his brittle hands.

He had good tools, heart, could box 'n had heavy hands, but he needed to set the pace. With Marciano, he'd be out of his comfort zone, and eventually beaten down.

 

bump

 

I agree with this, looks to be an action fight while it lasted because of styles or a perfect style for Rocky to exhibit his goods