Howard Clark 42 lost his last 51 fights now terminally ill with dementia.

There's a difference between journeymen and punching bags though mate. I'm not saying everyone with a losing record should be quit, but c'mon, that fella with 256 losses?

 

I doubt very much if a fighter could have 300 fights if he couldn't defend himself.

 

There was an article in the News Of The World a few months back about Howard Clarke and his illness, there was a picture of him with a walking stick in the article.

 

The likes of Peter Buckley are the bread and butter of British boxing. It's not all about the big names, undefeated records, PPV etc.

Whenever I've seen fighters like Peter Buckley fight, they tend to spoil and fiddle their way through 'till the final bell. They're not necessarily punchbags just because they don't win very often.

 

maybe we just have to accept that boxing is a dangerous sport, do what we can for the really poor journeymen (ie stop them fighting) but let the rest get on with it because it a free country?

EDIT: sorry if the end of that post sounds sarkey, it wasn't meant that way.

 

This is very sad news...:-(

However there is a massive legal arguement if the Board was to step in and remove the right for someone to fight...:yep

I think that journeymen are the backbone of our sport. They are the showsavers at times...:yep

There are many of our top fighters who have all been matched with tough journeymen who have given them a good workout and tested there concentration and stepped them up nicely...:yep

There are lots if journeymen who get my respect for what they do...:yep

My favourite is Paul Bonson, he was/is a tough fella and his card reflects who he has been in with...:happy

I think some journeymen with the right promoter can earn some decent money that gives them a good lifestyle and I am sure if they have saved well and nice little nest egg...:yep

I can feel a thread coming on...:good

 

You raise a good point regarding brain scans, I don't know how stringent the BBBofC is on this.

 

Buckley was good defensiley

Heanrs wants Tavrer :rofl

 

There was a thread about this a couple of months back.

It is sad what has happened to Clark, and there can be little doubt boxing is to blame. But there is no systemic failure to blame.

Clark was a quality journeyman who in his pomp was good enough to upset a streaking prospect and get himself an alphabet title fight in America.

But even at the end, Clark was a sturdy journeyman capable of taking all but the best the distance.

If the Howard Clark's of this world are not given licences to box, there can be no boxing.

It is small comfort to Clark and his family, but it is just terrible luck what has happened to him, and I would like to think the boxing community will do all it can to support Clark and his family.

 

its not defeats they should look at its the manner of the defeats

if there getting knocked out every fight or stopped then they should take a look

 

They do, it is a minimum three week suspension for a stoppage defeat.