LaMar Clark


LaMar F. Clark 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. 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.
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 at Bingham Canyon, Utah, on December 1, 1958. This helped to put his name not only to the Guinness Book, but in the sports history books as well 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 was reportedly held at the place, which was underpopulated at that time, and soon became a ghost town.
An uneducated glance at the Clark's official career record statistics 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 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.

Amateur career

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

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.
Clark died on November 5, 2006.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentOpp RecordTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
46Loss43–3 Cassius Clay5–0–0KO2, 1:271961-04-19 Freedom Hall State Fairground, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
45Win43–2 Chuck Wilburn6–12–4KO2 1961-03-04 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
44Loss42–2 Pete Rademacher6–3–1TKO10, 2:271960-06-29 Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
43Loss42–1 Bartolo Soni12–2–1TKO9, 2:021960-04-08 Weber High School Gymnasium, Ogden, Utah, USA
42Win42–0 Kenneth Hayden0–4–0KO1, 0:591960-01-11 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
41Win41–0 Kooey GarciaKO1, 1:071960-01-02 West Jordan, Utah, USA
40Win40–0 Charley DavisKO1 1959-12-04 George Nelson Field House, Logan, Utah, USA
39Win39–0 Tony BorneKO1 1959-05-04 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
38Win38–0 Treach PhillipsKO1 1959-05-04 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
37Win37–0 Tony Burton4–2–1KO4 1959-04-04 Polo Grounds, Palm Springs, California, USA
36Win36–0 Rod OrellKO1, 1:291959-03-20 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
35Win35–0 Ferrin Barr0–2–0KO1 1959-02-07 Helper, Utah, USA
34Win34–0 Ferrin Barr0–1–0KO2 1959-01-26 Eldred Recreation Center, Provo, Utah, USA
33Win33–0 Bob Hall0–3–0KO1 1959-01-24 Helper, Utah, USA
32Win32–0 Ox AndersonKO2 1959-01-23 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
31Win31–0 Phil PaxtonKO1, 1:391959-01-16 Uintah High School Gym, Vernal, Utah, USA
30Win30–0 Dennis ForslandKO1, 1:311958-12-26 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
29Win29–0 Ferrin BarrKO2 1958-12-22 Cedar City, Utah, USA
28Win28–0 Cornell Butler2–9–0KO1, 1:211958-12-15 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
27Win27–0 Allan Hedge0–2–0KO1, 0:351958-12-15 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
26Win26–0 Del RandallKO1, 0:221958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
25Win25–0 John LowdKO1, 1:191958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
24Win24–0 Dick PierceKO1, 0:441958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
23Win23–0 Jack Read1–2–0TKO1, 0:071958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
22Win22–0 Tom KiddKO1 1958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
21Win21–0 Wayne EnnisKO2, 1:371958-12-01 Bingham, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
20Win20–0 Sain ThompsonKO1 1958-11-29 Kanab, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
19Win19–0 Jimmy KingKO1, 2:121958-11-28 Kanab, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
18Win18–0 Hal CrumpKO2, 1:401958-11-28 Kanab, Utah, USAPart of 'Intermountain Heavyweight Champion' tournament.
17Win17–0 Ken HowardKO1, 1:351958-11-10 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
16Win16–0 Dick Tanner0–7–0RTD2, 3:001958-11-10 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
15Win15–0 Maurice LenieceKO1, 2:111958-11-10 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
14Win14–0 Ricky SmithKO1, 2:321958-10-13 West Jordan Elementary School, West Jordan, Utah, USA
13Win13–0 Oscar Talley0–4–0KO1, 0:551958-10-13 West Jordan Elementary School, West Jordan, Utah, USA
12Win12–0 Rusty DavisKO1, 2:011958-09-11 Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
11Win11–0 Joe Sullivan0–1–0KO4 1958-07-26 Arena, West Jordan, Utah, USA
10Win10–0 Willie DaltonKO1 1958-07-17 West Jordan, Utah, USA
9Win9–0 Dynamite Jackson1–5–0KO1, 0:371958-07-07 West Jordan, Utah, USA
8Win8–0 Buck Dixon0–1–0KO4, 0:391958-06-04 West Jordan Park, West Jordan, Utah, USA
7Win7–0 Jerry OlsterKO2 1958-04-05 Cedar City, Utah, USA
6Win6–0 Buck DixonKO1, 2:301958-03-03 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
5Win5–0 Keith JacobsenKO1, 1:021958-01-28 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
4Win4–0 Jack Read1–1–0KO2 1958-01-21 Cedar City, Utah, USA
3Win3–0 John Hicks0–1–0KO3 1958-01-18 Cedar City, Utah, USA
2Win2–0 Willard WhitakerKO2 1958-01-11 Cedar City, Utah, USA
1Win1–0 John HicksPTS6 1958-01-04 Cedar City, Utah, USA