LaMar Clark

LaMar F. Clark (December 1, 1934 – November 5, 2006) was an American professional boxer who fought in the heavyweight division. He was active from 1958 to 1961 and fought a recorded 46 times in his 3 year-career, most of which in his home state of Utah. Clark has the current record of most consecutive knockouts at 44 (including unsanctioned bouts).[1][2] It is still however unclear how the officials of the Utah State Boxing Commission sanctioned most of his bouts versus inexperienced debutants being aware of his knockout-winning streak without ever questioning the level of opposition.

LaMar Clark
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
NationalityAmerican
Born(1934-12-01)December 1, 1934
Cedar City, Utah
DiedNovember 5, 2006(2006-11-05) (aged 71)
Boxing record
Total fights46
Wins43
Wins by KO42
Losses3

The Guinness Book of World Records credits Clark not only with the most consecutive 44 KOs record, set at Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 1960, but also with the world record for most knockouts at one night for he reportedly knocked out 6 opponents in one night (5 in the first round) at Bingham Canyon, Utah, on December 1, 1958.[3] This helped to put his name not only to the Guinness Book, but in the sports history books as well (cf. Boxing Legends: Greatest Boxers, Toughest Fights, Classic Rivalries)[4] without any asterisk to his achievements, which are questionable to say the least, with his sensational record-breaking six-at-a-time fight night main event with a seven-seconds knockout that was reportedly held at the place, which was underpopulated at that time,[5] and soon became a ghost town.[6]

An uneducated glance at the Clark's official career record statistics (43–3, 42 KOs, 28 of which were scored in the 1st round) could create an illusionary impression of Clark being one of the greatest knockout artists of all time, one of the all-time boxing greats pound-for-pound for sure (and it actually did, with his bout versus Tony Burton in Palm Springs was refereed by legendary Jack Dempsey himself.) However, a more careful look at his record breakdown tells that over 90% of his fights were against limited-to-none opposition. His few match-ups against considerable level opponents ended with Clark being knocked out by world-class contenders. His entire career might have gone completely differently had his manager been less careful in selecting opponents for him.[7]

Amateur career

Clark claimed an amateur record of 25–2, winning a regional Golden Gloves championship in the process.[7]

Professional career

Clark debuted on January 4, 1958 in a fight against John Hicks which he won by decision after 4 rounds. From his next fight with Willard Whitaker to his January 11, 1960 bout with Kenneth Hayden, Clark would amass a 44 knockout streak. Of his total 46 bouts 27 were against boxers making their professional debut.

His last fight was on April 19, 1961 against Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay. Ali knocked out Clark in the 2nd round breaking his nose. Clark retired after his fight with Ali.[8][9][10]

Clark died on November 5, 2006.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
46 fights 43 wins 3 losses
By knockout 42 3
By decision 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Opp Record Type Round, time Date Location Notes
46Loss43–3 Cassius Clay5–0–0KO2 (10), 1:271961-04-19 Freedom Hall State Fairground, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
45Win43–2 Chuck Wilburn6–12–4KO2 (10)1961-03-04 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
44Loss42–2 Pete Rademacher6–3–1TKO10 (10), 2:271960-06-29 Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
43Loss42–1 Bartolo Soni12–2–1TKO9 (10), 2:021960-04-08 Weber High School Gymnasium, Ogden, Utah, USA
42Win42–0 Kenneth Hayden0–4–0KO1 (6), 0:591960-01-11 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
41Win41–0 Kooey GarciadebutKO1 (8), 1:071960-01-02 West Jordan, Utah, USA
40Win40–0 Charley DavisdebutKO1 (8)1959-12-04 George Nelson Field House, Logan, Utah, USA
39Win39–0 Tony BornedebutKO1 (8)1959-05-04 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
38Win38–0 Treach PhillipsdebutKO1 (8)1959-05-04 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
37Win37–0 Tony Burton4–2–1KO4 (6)1959-04-04 Polo Grounds, Palm Springs, California, USA
36Win36–0 Rod OrelldebutKO1 (8), 1:291959-03-20 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
35Win35–0 Ferrin Barr0–2–0KO1 (8)1959-02-07 Helper, Utah, USA
34Win34–0 Ferrin Barr0–1–0KO2 (6)1959-01-26 Eldred Recreation Center, Provo, Utah, USA
33Win33–0 Bob Hall0–3–0KO1 (8)1959-01-24 Helper, Utah, USA
32Win32–0 Ox AndersondebutKO2 (8)1959-01-23 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
31Win31–0 Phil PaxtondebutKO1 (8), 1:391959-01-16 Uintah High School Gym, Vernal, Utah, USA
30Win30–0 Dennis ForslanddebutKO1 (8), 1:311958-12-26 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
29Win29–0 Ferrin BarrdebutKO2 (8)1958-12-22 Cedar City, Utah, USA
28Win28–0 Cornell Butler2–9–0KO1 (8), 1:211958-12-15 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
27Win27–0 Allan Hedge0–2–0KO1 (8), 0:351958-12-15 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
26Win26–0 Del RandalldebutKO1 (8), 0:221958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
25Win25–0 John LowddebutKO1 (8), 1:191958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
24Win24–0 Dick PiercedebutKO1 (8), 0:441958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
23Win23–0 Jack Read1–2–0TKO1 (8), 0:071958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
22Win22–0 Tom KidddebutKO1 (8)1958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
21Win21–0 Wayne EnnisdebutKO2 (8), 1:371958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
20Win20–0 Sain ThompsondebutKO1 (8)1958-11-29 Kanab, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
19Win19–0 Jimmy KingdebutKO1 (8), 2:121958-11-28 Kanab, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
18Win18–0 Hal CrumpdebutKO2 (8), 1:401958-11-28 Kanab, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
17Win17–0 Ken HowarddebutKO1 (4), 1:351958-11-10 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
16Win16–0 Dick Tanner0–7–0RTD2 (4), 3:001958-11-10 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
15Win15–0 Maurice LeniecedebutKO1 (4), 2:111958-11-10 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
14Win14–0 Ricky SmithdebutKO1 (4), 2:321958-10-13 West Jordan Elementary School, West Jordan, Utah, USA
13Win13–0 Oscar Talley0–4–0KO1 (4), 0:551958-10-13 West Jordan Elementary School, West Jordan, Utah, USA
12Win12–0 Rusty DavisdebutKO1 (6), 2:011958-09-11 Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
11Win11–0 Joe Sullivan0–1–0KO4 (8)1958-07-26 Arena, West Jordan, Utah, USA
10Win10–0 Willie DaltondebutKO1 (8)1958-07-17 West Jordan, Utah, USA
9Win9–0 Dynamite Jackson1–5–0KO1 (6), 0:371958-07-07 West Jordan, Utah, USA
8Win8–0 Buck Dixon0–1–0KO4 (4), 0:391958-06-04 West Jordan Park, West Jordan, Utah, USA
7Win7–0 Jerry OlsterdebutKO2 (8)1958-04-05 Cedar City, Utah, USA
6Win6–0 Buck DixondebutKO1 (4), 2:301958-03-03 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
5Win5–0 Keith JacobsendebutKO1 (4), 1:021958-01-28 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
4Win4–0 Jack Read1–1–0KO2 (8)1958-01-21 Cedar City, Utah, USA
3Win3–0 John Hicks0–1–0KO3 (8)1958-01-18 Cedar City, Utah, USA
2Win2–0 Willard WhitakerdebutKO2 (10)1958-01-11 Cedar City, Utah, USA
1Win1–0 John HicksdebutPTS6 (6)1958-01-04 Cedar City, Utah, USA

References

  1. David L. Hudson Jr. (13 May 2009). Combat Sports: An Encyclopedia of Wrestling, Fighting, and Mixed Martial Arts. ABC-CLIO. pp. 63–. ISBN 978-0-313-34384-1.
  2. John Grasso (14 November 2013). Historical Dictionary of Boxing. Scarecrow Press. pp. 102–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7867-9.
  3. Guinness Book of World Records, 1988, p. 359.
  4. Boxing Legends: Greatest Boxers, Toughest Fights, Classic Rivalries by Angus G. Garber, 1988, p. 123
  5. Bingham Canyon Demographics & Statistics
  6. For example, George Foreman took up five opponents on April 26, 1975, at 12,000+ Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada.
  7. Historical Dictionary of Boxing by John Grasso, 2013, pp. 102-103.
  8. "Muhammad Ali's ring record". ESPN. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  9. Thomas Hauser (1991). Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times. Simon & Schuster. pp. 38.
  10. Felix Dennis & Don Atyeo (2003). Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years. miramax books. p. 58.
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