Elky Clark

Elky Clark (4 January 1898 – 22 September 1956) was a Scottish professional boxer who competed from 1921 to 1927. He held the British and inaugural Commonwealth flyweight titles from 1924 to 1926, the EBU European flyweight title from 1925 to 1926 and previously, the Scottish Area bantamweight title from 1923 to 1924.

Elky Clark
Statistics
Nickname(s)William Clark (alias)
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Reach65+1⁄2 in (166 cm)
NationalityScottish
Born4 January 1898
Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland
Died22 September 1956 (aged 58)
Boxing record
Total fights47
Wins30
Wins by KO20
Losses12
Draws5

Career

Born in Bridgeton, Glasgow Clark made his professional debut in November 1921, losing to Alec Boyes.

In May 1923, he unsuccessfully challenged for the Scottish flyweight title against Willie Woods (later a Canada flyweight title challenger). He won the title in November that year, Harry McConnell retiring in the thirteenth round. He later also won the Scottish bantamweight title.[1]

In March 1924 he faced Kid Kelly for the British flyweight title that became vacant when Jimmy Wilde retired; He stopped Kelly in the twentieth and final round to become British champion. In September that year he beat Jim Hanna to take the British Empire title.[2]

In November 1924 he unsuccessfully challenged for Michel Montreuil's European title, but two months later beat the Belgian to become champion of Europe.[3] Over the next two years he made four successful defences of the European title, against Young Johnny Brown, Antoine Merlo, Kid Socks (with the British and Empire titles also at stake),[4] and Montreuil.

In January 1927 he challenged for The Ring world flyweight title against Fidel LaBarba at Madison Square Garden, losing a unanimous decision.[5]

Clark received lengthy hospital treatment for an eye injury sustained in the LaBarba fight, and having failed to defend in time was stripped of the British title on 7 April.[6] After being pronounced fit to resume fighting at the end of October,[7] he was due to challenge Johnny Hill, who had won the British title while Clark was indisposed, but after his eye problems returned after sparring, he announced his retirement in November 1927.[8]

Clark was a riveter by trade, and also played a dulcimer and accordion for a living.[9] In the late 1930s and 1940s he was boxing correspondent for the Daily Record.

References
  1. "Bantam Championship of Scotland: Jim Higgins Beaten by Elky Clark". The Scotsman. 20 May 1924. Retrieved 25 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "Elky Clark on his Victory". Dundee Courier. 8 September 1924. Retrieved 25 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Boxing: European Fly-Weight Championship: Elky Clark Wins". The Scotsman. 2 February 1925. Retrieved 25 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Elky Clark Wins Easily". Dundee Courier. 20 April 1926. Retrieved 25 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "British Champion Loses Big Fight in America". Leeds Mercury. 22 January 1927. Retrieved 25 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Elky Clark Deprived of Title". Porsmouth Evening News. 7 April 1927. Retrieved 25 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Elky Clark Fit: Free to Meet Johnny Hill". The Scotsman. 1 November 1927. Retrieved 25 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Elky Clark Retires". The Scotsman. 12 November 1927. Retrieved 25 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Biography at boxrec.com". boxrec.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.


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