Henry Clark 'The West Coast Cassius Clay'

Henry Clark,,,,,,,,,

'The Fastest Hands in the West'

A noted 'gunslinger', who could talk as fast as his hands.

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Angelo Dundee sent 'big' Mel Turnbow out to California to 'test' Henry in several sparring
sessions as a 'test' for Cassius Clay.

Mel Turnbow came back, and told Angelo to keep Cassius away from Henry, as he
was 'one swift cat'.

 

In late-1966,

The 'buzz' was out in San Francisco - this '21 year-old' kid looked good.

6' 3" and 212 lbs., fast hands and great endurance. Throw out those first '3 bouts'
as nothing more than 'testers', and he was as good as anybody in the #6 thru #10
Heavyweights in late-1966.

 

June 1966,

The 21 year-old Henry Clark was riding his 'unbeaten streak' to '9', and
the San Franciso Heavyweight was already getting 'a look see' by the
Heavyweight Champion - Cassius Clay.

Since his 'first-3' tester bouts, 'Henry the Gunslinger' was another one of the
hot 'west coast' fighters that the Champion 'planned' to avoid.

The west coast was hearing that Clay only wanted to fight 'old guys'
or 'fading fighters' from Canada or England.

 

Henry's Manager, Joe Herman was trying to get one of the Top 10 Heavyweights
to come to California to fight 'the gunslinger'. Joe didn't want Henry to look
too good, in scaring anybody away.

I believe it was right after 213 lb. Henry Clark had to carry 179 lb. 'Light-Heavyweight'
Bobby Stininato over 10-Rounds, in May 1966.

It was some kind of agreement, as Joe Herman handled both fighters. The bout was
ruled a 10-Round Draw by the officials. Even Referee Rudy Ortega scored the bout
5-5-0 in Rounds, as it was more of a 'you tap me and I tap you fight' for the
enjoyment of the Richmond Auditorium, California fans.

 

October 26, 1966

Civic Auditorium - Sacramento, California

Veteran Heavyweight - 35 year-old Zora Folley (207 lbs.) got the 'nod' over
Henry Clark (210 lbs.), by scoring a 'somewhat dull' 10-Round Decision.

Zora Folley landed several good over-hand rights in the early going of this
10-Round bout, including a couple of good barrages in Rounds 2 and 3.

But the 21 year-old California Heavyweight was able to thwart off the Arizona
veteran in the later rounds, by spinning and moving.

The last 3-Rounds were fought at a slow-pace, and the Civic Auditorium fans
boo'd both fighters.

Zora Folley, improves to 72-7-4, and still maintains his Top 10 World-rating.

It was the '1st-Loss' in '11-bouts' for 'The Gunslinger' Henry Clark, who falls to 8-3-2.

All '3' Officials scored the bout for Zora Folley.
Referee, Mario Ducchini
Judge, Al Martinez
Judge, Luis Gonzales

Henry Clark, 'Zora is a decent fighter and a good guy. But I had him figured out during the
last 3-Rounds, and if this fight was for 12-Rounds I would have stopped him. He fought
a little bit smarter than me, but I've only had '13-bouts' to his '80 plus' fights.'

 

Henry was one of only a handful of fighters who was willing to take on Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln.

On February 3, 1966 at The Olympic,

20 year-old 'Young Henry' at {8-2-1} was able to stall 'The Big Train' {35-7-1} in their 'west coast bout',
forcing Referee George Latka to call rare 'No Contest' in the 8th Round.

Amos Lincoln, 'Henry is the toughest fighter to hit clean. He may be the most elusive boxer out there,
including Cassius.'

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