Sonny Liston vs. Henry Clark

A scheduled 10-Round bout, for Saturday Afteroon, July 6, 1968.

To be broadcast live by ABC Televsion, with Howard Cosell announcing and Angelo Dundee provide commentary.

Sonny Liston had won 6 straight fights on his comeback trail, since
May 1966. This would be his third fight in 1968. 2-months earlier, he
lumbered to a TKO 7 over Billy Joiner, in a semi track meet at the
Olympic, in Los Angeles.

Un-ranked, with a 41-3-0 (31 KO's) record, Sonny Liston had been
walking around days before the fight, showing people his birth certificate,
claiming he was 36, as the skeptics still believed he was over 40.

His opponent, 23-year old California Heavyweight Champion, Henry Clark.
Clark, based out of San Francisco, had been on a run, with several
good decision wins in a row.
Henry Clark had worked his way up to a #5 WBA Heavyweight ranking,
and a #7 ranking in the well-respected Ring Magazine.

Sporting a record of 15-3-2 (3 KO's), Clark was not a big-puncher, but was a good stylish boxer, with an iron-chin.

 

For, Sonny Liston, he had been training on the west-coast, primarily at the
Main Street Gym in Los Angeles, in June 1968.

He had been busting up some sparring partners, Wayne Heath and Earl Averette.
His going price for administering a beating, $30 for sparring 3 rounds, plus $20 for expenses.

In early June, an offer came in from Boxing Promoter, Jim Pusateri. There was an
offer to fight Henry Clark, on National TV.
The fight would be promoted by Superior Boxing Club, at the Cow Palace, in
San Francisco, California.

The money was right, $20,000, plus general expenses.
A victory here, and Promoter Jim Pusateri told Sonny that he would try to put together a fight in Los Angeles,
with Jerry Quarry, who was recovering from a water skiing accident, or another young California Heavyweight
Joey Orbillo.

 

For, #5 Henry Clark, it was an opportunity of a lifetime.
Fighting in front of his hometown crowd, on National TV, ABC Sports.

Though he would receive less money than Sonny Liston, $12,500, it was a
a chance to take, a victory would guarantee a Title shot versus Jimmy Ellis.

After seeing Sonny Liston in Los Angeles, several weeks earlier versus Billy Joiner,
Clark proclaimed the ex-champion as, 'just plain awful' and 'he's old, man'.

Henry Clark, had been on a role. At 6' 3" and 215 lbs., he resembled an Ali-style.
He was working out like a fiend, at Newman & Herman Gym in San Francisco, and been very impressive in several work-outs.
At every chance, he would trash-talk Sonny Liston and label him as 'old as the hills',
and 'slow as molasses in winter'.

As for Henry Clark, he was the California Heavyweight Champion.
After going 0-2-1 in his first 3-fights, he had gone 15-1-1 in 17-bouts.
The lone blemish, a close decision loss to #5 ranked Zora Folley in October 1966.
Since that loss, Henry Clark went on a roll in 1967 and 1968.

Henry Clark had (7) victories in a row over;
4/27/68,, W Dec 10,,,, #7 Leotis Martin 25-3-0
8/29/67,, W Dec 10,,,, #18 Roger Risher 28-10-2
5/23/67,, W Dec 12,,,,, - Steve Grant 10-1-0 (California Heavyweight Title)
3/28/67,, W Dec 12,,,,,#10 Eddie Machen 50-9-3 (California Heavyweight Title)
3/14/67,, W Dec 12,,,,,#20 Fred Lewis 23-4-1 (California Heavyweight Title)
2/15/67,, W Dec 10,,,,, - Steve Grant 10-0-0
1/17/67,,,W Dec 12,,,,,,,- Bill McMurray 22-15-2 (Won California Heavyweight Title)

 

That was a brilliant line, to a Cosell question.

Also, 'I was just beginning to warm-up'

 

Howard Cosell;
'Your feeling pretty chipper'

Sonny;
'Yes I am, I was just starting to warm up'

Brutal left hooks to the body by Sonny, late in the 7th.

Do you think, Angelo Dundee was their to scout Sonny, for a shot at
Jimmy Ellis,,,,,,,it sure wasn't for Mel Turnbow.

 

After Sonny Liston brutallized sparring partners, Wayne Heath and Earl Averette in
the Main Street Gym, in Los Angeles, he headed up to Oakland, California, in
preperation for the Henry Clark fight.

Sometime in mid-June, Sonny Liston set up in Oakland.
Dick Saddler and Allen Moore were having trouble getting sparring partners for
Sonny, for his final 2-weeks training work for the Henry Clark bout.

Fighters, who were up their with Sonny, Jimmy Gilmore and Harold Dutra would not get in the ring with Liston,
in fear of getting busted up.
Both of these fighters were on The Cow Palace underacrd.

Enter Mac Foster. A 26 year-old Fresno-based Marine.
Foster, was 12-0-0 (12 KO's), and at 6' 2" and 210 lbs. was a young and up and coming brute, with potential.
Pat DiFuria (Fosters manager) and Gil Sanchez (Fosters trainer) were looking for a test.
Their goal to get him some experience with a real pro.

Both DiFuria and Sanchez, thought that Sonny Liston may well be a future opponent of Mac Foster,
and this might be a great opportunity, to check out their fighter against Liston.
Pat DiFuria encouraged Mac to spar with Sonny Liston.
His fee, $30 for a 3-round session, plus $20 in expenses.
DiFuria thought this would be a good test, to actually see what Foster had in his arsenal,
as well as his ability to take a brutal punch.

A sparring session was set, for 3-rounds with Sonny Liston and Mac Foster.
16 ounce boxing gloves were used.
Dick Saddler and Allen Moore were their with Sonny.
Gil Sanchez, Fosters trainer was their, guiding Mac.
Dick Saddler informed Sanchez, that he was working with Sonny, in slipping left hooks and
right hand chops over the top.
Gil Sanchez, told Mac Foster what they wanted, and told 'Big Mac' to just pace yourself through
the 1st Round.

In the 1st Round, it was heated action, but no damage to either fighter.
When Foster came to back to the corner, after 'Time' was yelled, he told Gil Sanchez that he
could take Sonny right now, he was open for the left hook.
Gil said, let it go, but don't wait for a return punch if you hurt him, follow up, because thats
what Dick Saddler wanted them to do.

In Round 2 of the sparring session, again it was a dead even battle, until Mac Foster landed a booming
left hook, that landed flush, the force of the punch backed Sonny into the ropes where he sagged,
Mac Foster froze for a second, until Gil Sanchez yelled 'Keep working',
Liston was wide open and Foster moved in, and unloaded with a chopping right that dropped Sonny to his knees.
Sonny got up, but spun around like a 'ballerina', and then pitched forward.
Sonny was out.

Mac Foster moved in to catch Sonny. Dick Saddler jumped in the ring, and both he and Foster helped Sonny Liston
back to the corner, with their arms under Sonny's, to prevent him from falling.

 

As for the fight, there really wasn't one.

Sonny Liston started off by walking down Henry Clark and just hit him
with hard punches for the 1st and 2nd Rounds.

In Round 3, Sonny slowed just a bit, and Henry Clark did move a little
better, and scored with some light punches. Sonny Liston was a bit more stationary, and didn't move quite as much.

In Round 4, Henry Clark actually scored with a flurry, but Liston realiated with
hard body punches and heavy jabs.

In Round 5, Clark again got off a quick-flurry, but Sonny kept on marching forward,
throwing slow but heavy punches.

In Round 6, Liston was a bit flat-footed, and looked like he may be slowing down a bit.
But again, started pushing off heavy jabs. The punches were taking their toll on Clark.

In Round 7, Liston was on the prowl, like a bull chasing down a wounded matador.
With about a minute left, Clark did land a punch that made Sonny dance for a minor flash, as Clark approached, Sonny backed up into the ropes. But Liston immediately re-grouped and fired off some heavy bombs which landed, then followed up with several frightening looking body punches that hurt Clark bad.
As Clark tried to move out of the corner, Liston backed off, then fired an overhand right
that nearly took Clarks head off.
Hurt, Clark backed into the ropes, where Sonny let got with several hard half-hook/
uppercuts that froze Henry Clark.

With 0:13 left in the round, Referee Frank Carter wrapped his arms around Sonny Liston, and stopped the fight.

 

Fat 250 lb. Jimmy Gilmore (2-7-0) KO's prospect Harry Dutra (7-1-0)

 

Fight broadcast by ABC-TV,,,Saturday July 6, 1968

All scorecards after 6 Rounds, 6-0 (Liston)

Sonny Liston; 219 lbs.
Henry Clark; 215 lbs.

Attendance; 4500
Live gate; $20,916

Sonny Liston; $20,000
Henry Clark; $12,500

Location; Cow Palace, San Francisco, California
Sponsored by; Superior Boxing Club
Promoter; Jim Pusateri
Matchmaker; Bennie Ford

Tickets;
Ringside; $10
Others; $8, $4
Balcony; $3

Sonny Listons corner;
Dick Saddler
Allen Moore
Johnny Naches

 

After the fight interview with Howard Cosell;

Howard Cosell;
'Whats your aim now Sonny, and whom do you want to fight next' ?
'Who do you think you can get a fight against' ?

Sonny Liston;
'Well, Uh, when I was down fighting in Los Angeles,,,,,,,,, what's the kids name'

Howard Cosell;
'Oh, Billy Joiner'

Sonny Liston;
'No, I fought Billy Joiner'

Sonny Liston;
'The guy that fought Patterson'

Howard Cosell;
'Jerry Quarry'

Sonny Liston;
'Yeah, Quarry, I'd like to fight him next ,,,,,,,,but Oh, he just got out of the hospital,,,, he had a water skiing thing'