Henry Clark 'The West Coast Cassius Clay'

May 23, 1967

Memorial Auditorium - Sacramento, California

22 year-old Henry Clark, 'The San Franciso Gunslinger' wins again, by scoring another
'easy' 12-Round Decision over 'The Heart Throb' Steve Grant.

The 214 lb. Heavyweight, was in complete command as he defended his California
State Heavyweight Championship for the 4th time.

Steve Grant, (194 lbs.) was no match for the fast handed boxer, as Clark took over
from the 6th round on with one of the best left-hands in the Heavyweight Division.

Henry Clark improves to 13-3-2. Steve Grant drops to 10-2-0, with both losses
coming at the hands of Mr. Clark.

The Oakland Tribune scored it {9-2-1} for Henry Clark.

California State Heavyweight Rankings
*** Henry Clark
1... Thad Spencer
2... Jerry Quarry
3... Roger Rischer
4... Steve Grant
5... Eddie Machen
6... Fred Lewis
7... Bill McMurray
8... Jim Fletcher
9... Amos Lincoln

 

Tuesday Night - August 29, 1967

'Henry Clark, The Best in the West'

Memorial Auditorium - Sacramento, California

Henry Clark did it again, with another Decision win over a tough California
Heavyweight. This time by a 10-Round Majority Decision over Oakland's
Roger Rischer.

The 'cagey' 34 year-old veteran Roger Rischer (Oakland) was suprisingly sharp
over the first '5-Rounds, out-punching the young San Francisco Heavyweight.

The 22 year-old Clark (219 lbs.) found his lighter opponent (196 lbs.) quicker than
he expected over the first half of the bout, as Rischer was able to counter
Henry's powerful left hands with right hand leads, and left hooks to the body.

But after Rischer slowed down, the young Clark fighting like a 'mountain lion'
mauled the veteran with a two-fisted attack, landing with long-range punches
without facing a return blow.

After '9-Rounds', the fight was 'Even'.

In the final round, Clark opened up with continuous left jabs keeping the Oakland
Heavyweight from landing with his sharp right-hand counters. With momemts to go,
Clark landed a hard left hook and whipping round hand to Rischer's chin, put a punctuation
on the Round 10.

Henry Clark improves to 14-3-2, and is now ranked as the #12 WBA Heavyweight.

Roger Rischer drops to 28-11-2.

Scorecards;
Referee, Luis Gonzales.....5-4-1
Judge, Al Martinez...........3-3-4
Judge, Mario Ducchini......5-4-1

Joe Herman, Henry Clark's Manager, 'We would like to fight Floyd Patterson next. He just lost to
Jerry Quarry, and he may want to take on a good opponent to get back into the Top 5. We could
also try to track down Cassius Clay, and fight him at an undisclosed location. Maybe Baja California
or some 'Bull Ring' in Mexico. Henry is the only guy out there with the style to beat him.'

 

April 27, 1968

Oakland Arena - Oakland, California

WBA Heavyweight Championship Bout.

#1 - Jerry Quarry vs #2 - Jimmy Ellis

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On the undercard, WBA Elimination bout (Winner to fight the newly crowned Champion)

#9 - Leotis Martin vs #11 - Henry Clark

Also, Jack Hurley was 'clammoring' for his fighter, #10 WBA - Boone Kirkman (Washington Heavyweight)
to get a title shot next.

 

April 27, 1968

Coliseum Arena - Oakland, California

Attendance; 11,000

Henry Clark, the 23 year-old 'Gunslinger from San Francisco' 'upset' Philadelphia
Heavyweight #9 ranked Leotis Martin by a 10-Round Majority Decision.

The 215 lb. Clark, utilizing quickness and a sharp left hand as good as former Champion
Cassius Clay, held off the dangerous hard-punching 29 year-old Leotis Martin with
his long arm left.

Martin, recognized as having one of the best right-hands in the Heavyweight Division,
was only able to score with his power-punch a few times. Henry Clark, was able
to absorb Martin's hard missles, to come back with his own hard left hand.

Both fighters exchanged hard punches in Rounds 3, 5, and 6. After 6-Rounds,
the bout is 'Even' on the scorecards.

But, Clark is the better boxer and the more effective fighter in Rounds 7 and 8 to
take the lead, as Leotis fades and doesn't land anything telling.

The last '2-Rounds' are fought on even terms, as Henry Clark boxes and moves, while
Leotis stalks and trys to land a heavy right hand.

Scorecards
Referee, Tony Bosnich....4-4-2
Judge, Rudy Ortega.......6-3-1
Judge, Fred Aspotoli......4-3-3

Henry Clark improves to 15-3-2, and is now in-line for a Title Shot versus new
WBA Heavyweight Champion - Jimmy Ellis.

Joe Herman, Manager for Henry Ckark, 'We can do this in 90-days. Jimmy Ellis is the
new Champion. Cassius Clay is long gone, and Henry is the man with the best left hand
in the Heavyweight Division now.'

 

Henry Clark was 'brilliant' right up to the time he fought Sonny Liston
on July 6, 1968 - at The Cow Palace in California.

The 'boys' were supposed to fight 'two-weeks' earlier in mid-June
but the bout was postponed.

As Sonny Liston later said to Howard Cosell after 'stopping' Henry Clark.

'When guys get fresh, they get sassy.'

Sonny was the best.......:good

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Henry Clark, admittingly was disappointed after getting 'stopped' by
the 'scowl' of Sonny Liston.

Many thought he would not only defeat the 41 year-old Sonny, but
some 'west coast' boxing pundits thought he would stop Sonny in the fight.

After the bout, Henry was positioned as the #10 Heavyweight in
August 1968.

But Henry did bounce back on September 26, 1968 at the Auditorium in
Oakland, by winning a 'shut-out' 10-Round Decsion over 5' 10" 273 lb.
'monster behemoth' "Fat Jimmy" Gilmore 9-7-0 (9 KO's).

In the fight, Henry did perform a 'better version' of the 'Cassius Clay Shuffle',
called 'The Clark Shuffle', as the Auditorium fans cheered Henry's moves.