Johnny Clark - RIP

[bennie]

Just read that former British and European bantamweight champion Johnny Clark has passed away after a long battle with dementia. Johnny was once desperately close to a shot at Mexico's WBC bantamweight champion Rafael Herrera in Mexico City in May 1974 but in the end former WBA champ Romeo Anaya got the shot and was crushed in six rounds by the forgotten Herrera, who was something special in his day.
Londoner Clark was a fine professional who paid his dues to emerge as British champ after 15 thrilling, gruelling, rounds with Belfast's Paddy Maguire in February 1973 at the Albert Hall, in the days when titles forced men to the well. He then proved himself the best bantamweight in Europe by outscoring Italy's Franco Zurlo two months later and was at the height of his game, still only 27 and still British and European king, when a detached retina cruelly forced him out in the summer of 1974 with a record of 39-3-1 (27). Johnny later turned his hand to training and coached Gary Stretch for a while.

[harrygreb]

oh, i'm so sad to hear this news. i really liked johnny clark. walworth's finest. the dust up with dwyer was amazing. johnny was a great boxer and laid it all on the line in there. top post bennie. thanks for that. and thanks to johnny for everything.

bloody sad news - one of the great under valued brits

rest easy champ

[harrygreb]

oops - my bad - maguire not dwyer. sorry, still shocked from the news

[Rezzer1967]

Just read that former British and European bantamweight champion Johnny Clark has passed away after a long battle with dementia. Johnny was once desperately close to a shot at Mexico's WBC bantamweight champion Rafael Herrera in Mexico City in May 1974 but in the end former WBA champ Romeo Anaya got the shot and was crushed in six rounds by the forgotten Herrera, who was something special in his day.
Londoner Clark was a fine professional who paid his dues to emerge as British champ after 15 thrilling, gruelling, rounds with Belfast's Paddy Maguire in February 1973 at the Albert Hall, in the days when titles forced men to the well. He then proved himself the best bantamweight in Europe by outscoring Italy's Franco Zurlo two months later and was at the height of his game, still only 27 and still British and European king, when a detached retina cruelly forced him out in the summer of 1974 with a record of 39-3-1 (27). Johnny later turned his hand to training and coached Gary Stretch for a while.

Thanks for the info. First time I've heard of Johnny Clark. Very interesting.

[prewarboxing]

Another one from my youth has gone. I remember him so well. Didn't get a lot of TV coverage, he was one of the lesser known champions even back then. Proper boxing people knew all about him though. Top amateur and a great professional. So sorry to hear this

Miles Templeton

[Arnie.]

R.I.P

[dookus]

RIP champ

[Fray Bentos]

The uncrowned champ! RIP Johnny Clark.

[roy]

As a fellow South Londoner, I was lucky enough to see Johnny Clark as an amateur and be at most of his professional fights.
He was held to a draw on his debut, at the Royal Albert Hall, by Tommy Connor (fellow debutant Mark Rowe lost on the same bill). Clark then won his next 26 fights (21 inside the distance)before challenging Alan Rudkin for the British title. I've just dug out my programme for that bill, on 21 April 1970, and see that I gave 4 of the first 5 rounds to Clark. I didn't give another round to Clark after that and he was eventually stopped in the 12th round, of what I remember as one of the best fights that I've seen. Incidentally, Joe Bugner, Johnny Stracey and Chris Finnegan also fought on the bill. Thanks for the memories Johnny, RIP.