Scott 'Golden Boy' Clark The welterweight from Oralndo, Florida. His manager, smartly built up his record by having the 'Golden Boy' take on strictly Grade 'C' level fighters. Up to January 1979, had a record of 28-1-0 (19 KO's) and a #8 WBA Welterweight ranking. That was good enough to get him a WBA Championship bout versus Pipino Cuevas, and on National Television (USA-TV), on Monday, January 29, 1979, at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The 5' 8' Clark was not a stylish-boxer, but more of a wide-swinging bomber with good power (when facing low-level opponents). Going into his bout with Pipino Cuevas, the 20 year-old Scott Clark's claim to fame, he had never been floored in over 100 amateur bouts, and 29 professional bouts. Pipino was making his 8th Title defense of the WBA Welterweight Championship. To make matters worse for Scott Clark, he had to leave the 'comfortable confines' of Orlando, Florida, and travel to California to face Pipino, and 17,000 'fanatic' Cuevas boxing fans at the The Forum. It was all over in the 2nd Round,,,,,first '2' knockdowns, then Pipino chasing the 'Golden Boy' all over the ring.
I had the pleasure of knowing Scott personally and we discussed his career at length. He said the plan after the Cuevas fight was to move up in weight to Welterweight and that he had a promotional offer from Top Rank as well. I believe he said he tore a rotator cuff and ended up retiring and working on an oil rig. I thought he was one of the few Cuevas opponents who came in confident and without fear.
D9,,,,,,,,, Most thought that Scott would be 'lucky' to last even 1 Round. Hats off to him though, he went right after Pipino, and got in his fair share of hard punches in the 'First Round'. He even nailed Pipino with a good right hand that snapped his head sideways. But, he got too confident, and was in a 'squared-up position' when Pipino landed a booming left hook to his chin. Talk about throwing 'caution to the wind',,,,,,,Scott was one 'crazy *******' that night.
Scott 'Golden Boy' Clark Despite a #8 WBA Welterweight ranking in January 1979,,,,,,,,,, Ring Magazine did not acknowledge Scott in the Top 20 at the time. They did write some scathing things about the 'Golden Boy' getting a shot at the WBA Welterweight Championship, over some other deserving challengers. The Ring stated, 'Scott Clark', the Welterweight Champion of the Florida 'club-fighter' circuit. He would not even be ranked in the Top 10, at some of the New York Boxing Gyms. More from the Ring, 'Scott is getting a shot at the tiltle, because he isn't that good. The #8 WBA-ranking, looks 'store bought', and purchased with a 'coupon'.
"Crazy *******" is a good word to describe him. His post-boxing career was working on oil rigs in the Middle East. His best "win" was getting pissed off at 175lb James Salerno for headbutting him after a sparring session and beating him senseless out back of the gym in Orlando. His managers were moving him up to Welterweight for big money matches. He was in line for no less than Sugar Ray Leonard before his career ending injury. I suspect he would've shown better at a higher weight. He said he was cutting off his legs to make 135lbs. He was a good guy and I liked talking with him.
I just watched his fight with Cuevas on youtube. I hate to use the term "stiff" but that's what he looked like. Cuevas's title reign included a few of these type of defenses.
