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LaMar Clark

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LaMar Freeman Clark (December 1, 1933 – 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, mostly in his home state of Utah. The Guinness Book of World Records lists Clark as the boxer with the most consecutive knockouts (42), and also the most knockouts in one night (six).[1] Clark's knockout streak garnered him nationwide press attention,[2] though some commentators have derided the poor quality of his opposition.

LaMar Freeman Clark
Born(1933-12-01)December 1, 1933
Cedar City, Utah
DiedNovember 5, 2006(2006-11-05) (aged 72)
West Jordan, Utah
NationalityAmerican
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights51
Wins47
Wins by KO45
Losses3
Draws1

Amateur career edit

Clark claimed an amateur record of 25–2, winning a regional Golden Gloves championship in the process.[3]

Professional career edit

Clark was managed by Merv Jensen, who also managed middleweight champion Gene Fullmer.[3] He made his professional debut on January 4, 1958, winning a six-round decision over John Hicks. Subsequently, Clark won his next 44 bouts by knockout. The Historical Dictionary of Boxing describes the quality of his opposition in these bouts as "poor".[3] None was a rated contender and most had little or no professional experience. In a December 1959 column reflecting on Clark's long KO streak, Red Smith wrote: "Up to now Clark has been whipping sheep herders and streetcar conductors", and thus reserved judgement on his ability.[4]

To build publicity for Clark, Jensen arranged for him to fight twice in one night; Clark won both bouts by KO. Clark followed up by knocking out three opponents on 10 November 1958 and six opponents on 1 December 1958 (including five in the first round and one within 7 seconds).[3] Another of Clark's wins was against Tony Burton, who later appeared in the Rocky movies, in a bout refereed by Jack Dempsey. On 11 January 1960, Clark knocked out Kenneth Hayden, his 44th consecutive knockout, surpassing the previous record held by Billy Fox.[5]

In April 1960, Clark was matched with Bartolo Soni, described as a "tough journeyman" who had never been knocked out.[3] Clark was unable to KO Soni and was himself stopped in the ninth round. Clark then fought Pete Rademacher, the 1956 Olympic gold medalist and former heavyweight title contender; Rademacher won by a tenth-round knockout. His last fight was on April 19, 1961, against Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali). Clay broke Clark's nose and knocked him out in the second round. Clark retired after this fight.[6][7][8]

Other sources state that Clark had 42 or 45 knockouts.[9][3]

Personal life edit

After retiring from boxing, Clark worked as a track foreman for the railroad operations at Kennecott's Bingham Canyon Mine until retiring in 1984.[10]

Clark died on November 5, 2006, aged 72. Clark was survived by his wife of 46 years, Brenda and his daughters Nicole Clark-Romano, Cherese Jones and Theresa Clark. As well as son-in-laws Tony Romano and Brent Jones and Theresa's son, Dillen LaMar Clark.[11]

Professional boxing record edit

46 fights 43 wins 3 losses
By knockout 42 3
By decision 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
46 Loss 43–3   Cassius Clay KO 2 (10), 1:27 1961-04-19   Freedom Hall State Fairground, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
45 Win 43–2   Chuck Wilburn KO 2 (10) 1961-03-04   Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
44 Loss 42–2   Pete Rademacher TKO 10 (10), 2:27 1960-06-29   Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
43 Loss 42–1   Bartolo Soni TKO 9 (10), 2:02 1960-04-08   Weber High School Gymnasium, Ogden, Utah, USA
42 Win 42–0   Kenneth Hayden KO 1 (6), 0:59 1960-01-11   Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
41 Win 41–0   Kooey Garcia KO 1 (8), 1:07 1960-01-02   West Jordan, Utah, USA
40 Win 40–0   Charley Davis KO 1 (8) 1959-12-04   George Nelson Field House, Logan, Utah, USA
39 Win 39–0   Tony Borne KO 1 (8) 1959-05-04   Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
38 Win 38–0   Treach Phillips KO 1 (8) 1959-05-04   Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
37 Win 37–0   Tony Burton KO 4 (6) 1959-04-04   Polo Grounds, Palm Springs, California, USA
36 Win 36–0   Rod Orell KO 1 (8), 1:29 1959-03-20   Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
35 Win 35–0   Ferrin Barr KO 1 (8) 1959-02-07   Helper, Utah, USA
34 Win 34–0   Ferrin Barr KO 2 (6) 1959-01-26   Eldred Recreation Center, Provo, Utah, USA
33 Win 33–0   Bob Hall KO 1 (8) 1959-01-24   Helper, Utah, USA
32 Win 32–0   Ox Anderson KO 2 (8) 1959-01-23   Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
31 Win 31–0   Phil Paxton KO 1 (8), 1:39 1959-01-16   Uintah High School Gym, Vernal, Utah, USA
30 Win 30–0   Dennis Forsland KO 1 (8), 1:31 1958-12-26   Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
29 Win 29–0   Ferrin Barr KO 2 (8) 1958-12-22   Cedar City, Utah, USA
28 Win 28–0   Cornell Butler KO 1 (8), 1:21 1958-12-15   Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
27 Win 27–0   Allan Hedge KO 1 (8), 0:35 1958-12-15   Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
26 Win 26–0   Del Randall KO 1 (8), 0:22 1958-12-01   Bingham, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
25 Win 25–0   John Lowd KO 1 (8), 1:19 1958-12-01   Bingham, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
24 Win 24–0   Dick Pierce KO 1 (8), 0:44 1958-12-01   Bingham, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
23 Win 23–0   Jack Read TKO 1 (8), 0:07 1958-12-01   Bingham, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
22 Win 22–0   Tom Kidd KO 1 (8) 1958-12-01   Bingham, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
21 Win 21–0   Wayne Ennis KO 2 (8), 1:37 1958-12-01   Bingham, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
20 Win 20–0   Sain Thompson KO 1 (8) 1958-11-29   Kanab, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
19 Win 19–0   Jimmy King KO 1 (8), 2:12 1958-11-28   Kanab, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
18 Win 18–0   Hal Crump KO 2 (8), 1:40 1958-11-28   Kanab, Utah, USA Part of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
17 Win 17–0   Ken Howard KO 1 (4), 1:35 1958-11-10   Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
16 Win 16–0   Dick Tanner RTD 2 (4), 3:00 1958-11-10   Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
15 Win 15–0   Maurice Leniece KO 1 (4), 2:11 1958-11-10   Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
14 Win 14–0   Ricky Smith KO 1 (4), 2:32 1958-10-13   West Jordan Elementary School, West Jordan, Utah, USA
13 Win 13–0   Oscar Talley KO 1 (4), 0:55 1958-10-13   West Jordan Elementary School, West Jordan, Utah, USA
12 Win 12–0   Rusty Davis KO 1 (6), 2:01 1958-09-11   Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
11 Win 11–0   Joe Sullivan KO 4 (8) 1958-07-26   Arena, West Jordan, Utah, USA
10 Win 10–0   Willie Dalton KO 1 (8) 1958-07-17   West Jordan, Utah, USA
9 Win 9–0   Dynamite Jackson KO 1 (6), 0:37 1958-07-07   West Jordan, Utah, USA
8 Win 8–0   Buck Dixon KO 4 (4), 0:39 1958-06-04   West Jordan Park, West Jordan, Utah, USA
7 Win 7–0   Jerry Olster KO 2 (8) 1958-04-05   Cedar City, Utah, USA
6 Win 6–0   Buck Dixon KO 1 (4), 2:30 1958-03-03   Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
5 Win 5–0   Keith Jacobsen KO 1 (4), 1:02 1958-01-28   Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
4 Win 4–0   Jack Read KO 2 (8) 1958-01-21   Cedar City, Utah, USA
3 Win 3–0   John Hicks KO 3 (8) 1958-01-18   Cedar City, Utah, USA
2 Win 2–0   Willard Whitaker KO 2 (10) 1958-01-11   Cedar City, Utah, USA
1 Win 1–0   John Hicks PTS 6 (6) 1958-01-04   Cedar City, Utah, USA

References edit

  1. ^ "Most consecutive knockouts". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Boxer Lamar Clark Ties Knockout Record, 43 in a Row". The Washington Post. 4 January 1960.
  3. ^ a b c d e f John Grasso (14 November 2013). Historical Dictionary of Boxing. Scarecrow Press. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-0-8108-7867-9.
  4. ^ "Lamar Clark, Knockout Artist". The York Dispatch. 11 December 1959.
  5. ^ "Clark Shatters Knockout Record By Blasting Hayden In First". Deseret News and Salt Lake Telegram. 12 January 1960.
  6. ^ "Muhammad Ali's ring record". ESPN. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  7. ^ Thomas Hauser (1991). Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times. Simon & Schuster. pp. 38. ISBN 9780671688929.
  8. ^ Felix Dennis & Don Atyeo (2003). Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years. miramax books. p. 58.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Clark". kennecott-groundbreakers.com. RioTinto. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Utah boxing great Clark dies at age 72". The Salt Lake Tribune. 8 November 2006.

External links edit

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