Clyde Gray 'Canadian Mist'

Clyde Gray,

The durable Canadian Welterweight, who fought as smooth as 'Canadian Mist'.

A well-built 5' 8" Welterweight, who resembled a 'fire hydrant', with a compact body
and hard iron shell.

Toronto-based, Clyde started off his career in the Welterweight Division, as a 21 year-old.

By April 1970, the 'Canadian Mist' busted through '21' straight wins with '12' by knockout,
fighting mainly in Toronto.

In his first 'test' in April 1970 and in Chicago, the 23 year-old Gray got out-smarted by
the 33 year-old 'trickster', former World Light-Welterweight Champion - Eddie Perkins
over 10-Rounds, bursting the bubble on his undefeated record.

But the muscular Gray rebounded, and returned to Canada, and scored some impressive
victories, including a February 1971 - 12-Round 'Majority' Decision win over 'undefeated'
and #10 ranked Donato Paduano (22-0-0) for the Canadian Welterweight Championship.

By November 1971, the 'Canadian Mist' was up to a 29-1-1 (19 KO's) record, and was
the #10 WBA and #10 WBC ranked Welterweight.

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November 19, 1971

The Auditorium - Long Beach, California

'Working At Close Range'

Clyde Gray battles Armando 'Mando' Muniz

Canadian - Clyde Gray 29-1-1 (19 KO's) the #10 WBA / #10 WBC rated Welterweight
ventured to Long Beach, California to fight Armando 'Mando' Muniz 15-0-1 (11 KO's)
for the 'vacant' NABF Welterweight Championship.

The local boy 'Mando' opened up a cut on the visitor Clyde Gray's face in the opening round,
and controlled the first 3-rounds. But the Canadian opened up in Round 4, and cut Muniz over
his eye.

The 'two' promising 24 year-old Welterweights went toe-to-toe for the next 4-Rounds, in an
'evenly' contested' bout. In Round 9, both fighters tried to slug away, but 'Mando' was
able to land first, and caught Gray with a hard right to the head that dropped him to the canvas
for the 'first' time in his career.

Clyde Gray could not beat the count, and was counted out for a L KO 9 'loss'.

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Following the November 1971 'loss' (KO 9) to Armando Muniz -

The 'Canadian Mist' rambled on over the next 22-months, and won
his next '11-bouts' to improve to 40-2-1 (26 KO's).

On September 22, 1973 - and at the Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens -
the 26 1/2 year-old Clyde Gray challenged the 'Great' Jose Napoles for the
World Welterweight Championship.
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The 33 1/2 year-old Champion - Jose Napoles 76-5-0 (52 KO's) was considered
on the edge of fading, and many thought that he was 'primed' for a loss.

Clyde Gray and Manager Irv Ungermann had devised a plan for Clyde to pressure
the Champion early, and force him to use up his energy. Then push him backwards,
making Napoles move on his 33 1/2 year-old legs.

Then, Clyde was to turn on the heat in Round 7, by using his hard left jab, in hopes
of wearing down the Champion over the second-half of the bout.

But, the Champion was the 'harder puncher' during the early exchanges, and was
effective with his punches to the body. Napoles then varried his attack to the head
in Round 5, scoring the 'knockdown'.

The Challenger was the aggressor in Rounds 7, 8 and 9 - as he out-worked the
Champion. But, Napoles picked up the pace in Rounds 10, 11 and 12 - to build
up a large lead on the scorecards, by 5, 5 and 7 points.

Round 13 went to Clyde Gray, and Round 14 went to the Champion - Jose Napoles.

In the final round, Clyde Gray was steady in pressuring Napoles, and scored with
several sharp punches on the fading Champion. But Napoles was smart, in not
getting trapped, as he boxed and moved until the final bell.


In a 'torrid' toe-to-toe exchange at the 2:30 Mark of Round 5, Champion -
Jose Napoles lands a straight right and short left hook to the chin of Challenger
- Clyde Gray, who is dropped on the seat of his pants. The Canadian was up immediately,
at the '1-Count' and took the Mandatory '8-count'.

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The 'Canadian Mist' was willing to go 'toe-to-toe' numerous
times with the powerful Jose Napoles.

And though the Champion was the harder puncher, Clyde hung
with him during the 'slam-bang' affair.

Both fighters were shook, but neither were ever in any serious trouble.

The Canadian was most successful when he jumped in and threw fast
flurries, then backed away before the Champion could counter, primarily
during Rounds 7, 8 and 9.

But, the Champion landed solid punches in Rounds 10, 11 and 12,
- which is what the judges were looking for, and awarded the
Champion those rounds based upon the strength of his harder punching.

After 13-Rounds, Jose Napoles had an edge of 5, 5 and 7 points on the Judges
scorecards, which was an insurmountable lead.

Clyde Gray had a solid 'final round', which swayed the minds of the Canadian
fans at the Toronto Maple Leaf Garden arena, but his valiant effort would
come up short.

Scorecards
* Referee, Jay Edson.....70-67 (7-5-3 in Rounds)
* Judge.......................71-67 (7-4-4 in Rounds)
* Judge.......................71-65 (9-4-2 in Rounds)

Jose Napoes was awarded a '2-point' edge in Round 5.

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Following the 'loss' to Jose Napoles for the World Welterweight Championship -

The 'Canadian Mist' continued maching on, by scoring '6' straight wins and
'5' by knockout from December 1973 thru February 1975. Included were wins over
Top 20 Welterweights,

* TKO 9......Fernand Marcotte
* TKO 4......Gil King
* TKO 8......Fate Davis
* TKO 8......Bunny Grant

The 46-3-1 (31 KO's) 'Canadian Mist' was seeking a rematch with Jose Napoles,
but the Champion would not sign a fight contract.

By January 1975, Clyde Gray was ranked as the #1 WBA Welterweight, and the
WBA decided to 'strip' Jose Napoles of his WBA-version of the Welterweight
Championship for refusing to fight Clyde Gray again.

 

Monday Night - March 3, 1975

Sports Arena - Calgary

28 year-old Clyde Gray defended his British-Commonwealth Welterweight
Championship by scoring a 'knockout' (TKO 5) over Quebec's - Marc Gervais 14-9-2 (6 KO's).

Clyde 'battered' Marc Gervais from the opening bell, and had the Quebec-fighter 'reeling'
in Round 4.

In Round 5, Clyde smashed Gervais with several hard punches to face with
a 'two-fisted' attack, that had Gervais bleeding badly from both the nose and mouth.
Moments later, Marc Gervais wobbled to his corner, with his back towards the British-
Commonwealth Champion, forcing the Referee to stop the bout as a TKO 5.

The 'Canadian Mist' now with a record of 47-3-1 (32 KO's), used this bout as his
'final' tune-up for his upcoming bout on April 5, 1975 in San Juan, Puerto Rico for
the 'vacant' WBA Welterweight Championship versus #2 WBA ranked Angel 'Cholo' Espada.

The Toronto-based fighter is the #1 WBA Welterweight.

Clyde Gray, 'I was worried about getting cut tonight. I can't afford to get injured,
or it could jeopardize my Championship fight next month. An injury could cost me
$40,000.'

Unfortunately, two-weeks later, a 'poorly conditioned' Angel Espada was 'upset' in
Venezuela on March 15, 1975 by Luis Acosta in his 'tune-up' bout, and the
WBA Championship bout was put on hold.

 

Mr. Scartissue,

I tried to find out who was #1 at the time.

I think you are correct, that Angel Espads was ranked as the #1 WBA Challenger
at the end of 1974 and thru March 1975.

But, I think Jose Napoles could have chosen either #1 Angel Espada or #2 Clyde Gray as
a 'mandatory defense'.

But Angel Espada's loss to Luis Acosta in Venezuela (March 15, 1975) dropped him out of the
Top Slot.

Clyde Gray was then moved to the #1 WBA position. When Clyde Gray and Angel
Espada fought in June 1975 - Mr. Gray was ranked #1 and Mr. Espada was #2.

No big deal on paper, as both fighters split the total fight purse fee at 50/50.

 

April 26, 1965 (Toronto, Canada)

Clyde Gray enroute to a 'knockout' (TKO 3) over 'tough trial-horse'
Sammy Ruckard (13-11-0).

The 'Canadian Mist' used this bout as his final tune-up, before heading
to San Juan, Puerto Rico to take on #2 WBA Welterweight - Angel Espada
for the 'vacant' WBA Welterweight Championship set for June 29th.

The 28 year-old Canadian improved his record 49-3-1 (34 KO's).

Prior to his bout with Angel Espada, Clyde Gray went through an
intense 8-week training camp where he sparred over 200-Rounds.

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Saturday Night - June 28, 1975

Roberto Clemente Stadium - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Promoter; Felix 'Tutu' Zabala

Attendance; 11,000

Pre Fight Talk;

Angel Espada, 'I will knock him out in 3 Rounds. I'm that good'.

Clyde Gray, 'Predictions are foolish talk. You prepare, and try to do your best.'
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Angel 'Cholo' Espada wins the 'vacant' WBA Welterweight Championship
by scoring a 'convincing' 15-Round Unanimous Decision over Canadian -
Clyde Gray.

The concern was that the 28 year-old Clyde Gray had over-trained, with
an intense 8-week training camp, which included sparring over 200-Rounds.

The 5' 8" Canadian and #1 WBA Welterweight came into the fight at a light 144 1/2 lbs.

On the other side, concerns were that the 27 year-old Angel 'Cholo' Espada was not
conditioned properly, as he only had 67-Rounds of sparring in his relatively short 3-week
training camp.

But, the 5' 9 1/2" Puerto Rican and #2 WBA Welterweight entered the ring a 'sleek' 145 3/4 lbs.

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In the early going, Clyde Gray pressed forward, and scored with good combinations
at Angel Espada's body. The taller Espada, with a 4" reach advantage fought mainly off
his back foot, by shooting out left jabs from outside.

In Round 4, Espada was able to land several hard punches into Gray's face, causing a
deep cut over the Canadian's left eye. Espada also opened a small nick under Gray's
right eye, and drew blood from his nose.

Clyde Gray continued to press forward in the middle-rounds, and attempted to throw
hard combinations, but Espada fought intelligently, by boxing and moving, and countering
with left jabs.

Through 10-Rounds, the bout appeared 'Even'.

In Round 11, Angel Espada picked up the pace, and continued to nail the Canadian with
hard left hands into the face, while staying outside. Gray now had another cut over his
left eye, to go along with a 2" long gash.

In Rounds 12 and 13, Espada's left hand controlled the flow of the fight, as Clyde Gray came
up short time and again with his hard punches. In return, Espada's hard punches to the Gray's
face now had caused a badly swollen lip on his opponent.

In Round 14, Clyde Gray pressed hard, but Espada countered smartly. During a close exchange,
as Gray threw a right hand, Espada slipped to the canvas. Referee - Isaac Herrera ruled it a
slip. Upon rising, Angel Espada continued to jab with stiff left hands, causing a contusion on Gray's
forehead.

In Round 15, Espada fought well, by jabbing and moving while Clyde Gray pressed and tried to
trap his opponent. As Clyde Gray lunged in, Espada countered with a fast flurry of sharp punches
and drove Gray backwards, while maintaining complete control.

Scorecards
Referee, Isaac Herrera.........146-143 (7-4-4 in Rounds)
Judge, Larry Rozadilla...........147-139 (11-3-1 in Rounds)
Judge, Luis Salbaran.............148-144 (6-2-7 in Rounds)

The Associated Press scored it for Angel Espada....147-140 (10-3-2 in Rounds)

Angel 'Cholo' Espada improved to 34-7-4 (19 KO's), while capturing the WBA
Welterweight Championship.

Clyde Gray fell to 49-4-1 (34 KO's).

Clydge Gray left the ring with a 2" gash over his left eye that required '14-stitches', a small
1" cut on the edge of the left eye, a cut under the right eye, a contusion on his forehead, and
a badly swollen lower lip.

Clyde Gray, 'I acknowledge that he won, and he fought an intelligent fight. But I think the fight
was much closer than the judges scored it. There were many close rounds.'

 

Highguard,,,,

Glad you appreciate it.

Clyde Gray,,,,,a good guy and consumate professional.

One fight that was almost made, Mr. Gray versus Wilfred Benitez.

 

The eye-cuts suffered in the bout with Angel Espads on June 28, 1975 -

Put the 'Canadian Mist' on the shelf for 5-months.

On December 3, 1975 - Clyde Gray returned, and defended his British-Commonwealth
Welterweight Championship in dominating fashion, by stopping {TKO 8} Lawrence Hafey
in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The same Lawrence Hafey who went 8-Full Rounds with Wilfred Benitez in 1974.

But, in the bout with Lawrence Hafey, Clyde suffered another eye cut, and was put on the
shelf for another 5-months.

Irv Ungerman was in the process of trying to get Clyde Gray a rematch with Angel Espada
for January 1976, but the eye injury put the 'Title Fight' on the back-burner.