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"Professor" John
Clark
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| BORN | May 18 1849; County Galway, Ireland |
| DIED | July 26 1922; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Some sources state 1923; Atlantic City, New Jersey) |
| HEIGHT | 5-6 1/2 (Some sources state 5-4) |
| WEIGHT | 125-145 lbs |
| RACE | White; Irish-American |
Clark was
born in County Galway, Ireland and reared in England but lived most of
his life in America; As a youth, Clark mastered "Clog" and "Jig" dancing
and performed in public as a dancer; At these exhibitions, he met many
boxers and developed an interest in pugilism
He was a bouncy, feisty competitor who ran a boxing school in
Philadelphia, traveled the country giving exhibitions, and competed in
the ring with many all-time great fighters
During his career, Clark defeated such men as Billy Payne, George
Travers, Edward Toohey, Mike Haley and John Tully
1871
Nov 30 Arthur Chambers New York, NY L 3
1871-1872
-Clark went to Philadelphia, Pa and opened a "Sparring"
and "Dancing" School with Jim Colbert and Bill Faldon
1876
Aug 26 -Clark challenged Billy Edwards to fight for the
Lightweight Championship of America; Edwards
refused, saying he was retired
1878
-Clark opened a Billiard Room and Boxing Studio in
Philadelphia, Pa
1879
Mar 27 Arthur Chambers Chippewa Falls, Can LK 136
-Lightweight Championship of America;
Some sources report 3/29/79
Mar 31 Arthur Chambers Philadelphia, Pa ND 2
Arthur Chambers SCH
-This bout was scheduled but fell through
1880
Nov 11 Johnny Reilly McGinty New York, NY EX
1882
Nov 10 Ed McGlinchey New York, NY EX
1883
Nov 12 Jimmy Ryan Philadelphia, Pa EX 4
-Some sources report 10/20/83;
Some sources report "D 4"
Dec 17 Jimmy Ryan Philadelphia, Pa D 4
1884
Dec Sweeney New York, NY EX
Dec 27 Jack Burke Philadelphia, Pa EX
1886
May 7 Charles White Philadelphia, Pa EX
May 20 Henry Anders Philadelphia, Pa KO 3
Jun 30 Martin Welch Philadelphia, Pa W 3
Jul 5 Edward Toohey Philadelphia, Pa W 4
1887
Aug 20 Jack Lawrence Philadelphia, Pa KO 1
Nov 21 Patsy O'Leary Minneapolis, Mn EX 3
Dec 8 John Connors Ashland, Wi EX 3
Dec 16 Mike Haley Ashland, Wi EX 3
Dec Harry Gilmore Minneapolis, Mn D 8
1888
Jun Jimmy Griffin St. Paul, Mn EX 3
Oct 8 Jimmy Griffin Ashland, Wi EX 4
Oct 22 Mike Haley Ashland, Wi W 2
Dec Young Manning St. Paul, Mn EX
1889
-Clark opened the "Olympic Club" in Philadelphia, Pa
-Clark toured the Western United States giving boxing
exhibitions and taking on all-comers within 10 lbs
of his weight
Mar 27 -Clark seconded Danny Needham vs Harry Gilmore in
Minneapolis, Mn
Apr 30 Joe Harris Washington County, Wi W 8
Jul 19 T.G. Scott Ashland, Wi KO 4
Aug 9 Jimmy Griffin Ashland, Wi LT 6
Aug 16 Jimmy Gibbons Ashland, Wi EX 3
Sep 21 Billy O'Brien Ashland, Wi EX 3
Sep 21 Danny Needham Ashland, Wi EX 3
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 5 Mike Conley Ashland, Wi EX 3
Nov 5 Jimmy Purcell Duluth, Mn L 4
1885-1890
Horace Leeds Atlantic City, NJ EX
1891
Nov 27 Paddy Smith New York, NY EX
Dec 7 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa D 4
-Some sources report 12/12/91
1892
Mar 26 William Young New York, NY W 4
Mar 30 Mike Mallon Philadelphia, Pa EX 3
Apr 1 John Tully Philadelphia, Pa W 3
Apr 30 Mike Mallon Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 5 Jimmy Carroll Philadelphia, Pa ND 3
-Some sources report "EX 3"
May 24 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 28 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 9 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 17 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa SCH
Jun 17 Jack Burke Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-The previous 2 bouts were scheduled for the same date;
The outcomes are not known
Jul 30 John Dawson Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Aug 29 Harry Osmond Philadelphia, Pa EX
Aug 29 Jack Burke Philadelphia, Pa EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Sep 14 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa EX 2
Sep 17 Charles "Bull" McCarthy Philadelphia, Pa EX
Oct 15 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Oct 28 Arthur Able Chester, Pa EX g
Nov 18 an unnamed opponent Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Nov 26 Harry B. Hoffman Atlantic City, NJ EX
Dec 16 an unnamed opponent Philadelphia, Pa EX
Dec 16 William W. Wilson Philadelphia, Pa EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
1893
Jan 7 J. Carr Philadelphia, Pa WF 1
-Lightweight Championship Competition
Jan 19 Jack McAuliffe Philadelphia, Pa EX 3
Jan 20 Arthur Able Philadelphia, Pa ND
Feb 18 Harry B. Hoffman Wilmington, De EX
Mar 11 Young Agerty Philadelphia, Pa EX
Mar 13 George Travers Danbury, Ct TK 4
Apr 14 R.H. Kain Philadelphia, Pa EX
Apr 18 Harry B. Hoffman Philadelphia, Pa EX
Apr 22 Billy Young Philadelphia, Pa EX
-Clark opened the "American Athletic Club"
in Philadelphia, Pa
Aug 26 Gus Roehm Philadelphia, Pa EX
Sep 16 -Clark was scheduled to spar at one of his shows
in Philadelphia, Pa
Sep 30 -Clark was scheduled to spar at one of his shows
in Philadelphia, Pa
Oct 7 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled but cancelled due
to the small crowd
Oct 9 Bill Bachman Philadelphia, Pa EX
Oct 14 Jimmy O'Donnell Philadelphia, Pa EX
Oct 14 Dick Wardle Philadelphia, Pa EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 21 Michael Caffrey Philadelphia, Pa EX
Oct 21 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
-Hogan was nine years old;
The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 28 Jimmy O'Donnell Philadelphia, Pa EX
Nov 4 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Nov 11 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Nov 17 -Clark was scheduled to spar at one of his shows
in Philadelphia, Pa; Some sources report 11/18/93
Nov 24 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
-Some sources report 11/17/93
Dec 4 Michael Caffrey Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Dec 5 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Dec 5 William Kendall Philadelphia, Pa EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Dec 9 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Dec 16 -Clark was scheduled to spar at one of his shows
in Philadelphia, Pa
Dec 21 Horace Leeds Lancaster, Pa EX 3
Dec 21 Frankie Hogan Lancaster, Pa EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Dec 23 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Dec 29 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Dec 30 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1894
Jan 8 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
Jan 8 Dan Coughlin Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-The previous 2 bouts were scheduled;
The outcomes are not known
Jan 15 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jan 25 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jan 27 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Feb 2 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Feb 3 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa EX
Feb 3 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Feb 16 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Feb 22 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Feb 24 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Feb Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled for late Feb 1894;
The outcome is not known
Mar 8 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa EX
Mar 22 Frankie Hogan New York, NY EX
Mar 22 Horace Leeds New York, NY EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr 7 Jerry Mahoney Philadelphia, Pa EX
Apr 12 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
Apr 12 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-The previous 2 bouts were scheduled;
The outcomes are not known
Apr 16 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Apr 21 Billy Dacey Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled but postponed
Apr 26 Frankie Hogan Lancaster, Pa EX
Apr 28 Billy Dacey Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled but cancelled
May 3 Jack Boylan Philadelphia, Pa ND
May 15 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 19 Frankie Hogan Wilmington, De EX
Jun 2 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 26 -Clark was scheduled to spar at Tamaqua, Pa
Jul 4 -Clark took a company of boxers to Dover, De
Jul 4 Frankie Hogan Dover, De EX
Jul 28 Dick Shannon Philadelphia, Pa EX
Aug 4 John Fitzgerald Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled but cancelled
Aug 4 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa EX
Aug 18 -Clark was scheduled to spar at Philadelphia, Pa
Sep 3 -Clark was scheduled to spar at Philadelphia, Pa
Sep 11 Frankie Hogan Dover, De SCH
-Clark and Hogan were to spar Sep 11-14 at Dover
Sep 22 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Sep 24 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Sep 29 Thomas Daly Philadelphia, Pa ND 3
Oct 6 Lewis Clark Philadelphia, Pa EX
-Lewis was John's young son
Oct 10 Frankie Hogan Wilmington, De EX
Oct 13 Frankie Hogan Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Oct 27 Bob Redding Philadelphia, Pa ND 3
Nov 3 Charles Rodgers Philadelphia, Pa EX
Nov 10 -Clark was scheduled to spar at Philadelphia, Pa
Nov 24 Charles Rodgers Philadelphia, Pa EX
Dec 8 Charles Rodgers Philadelphia, Pa EX
Dec 24 -Clark was scheduled to spar at Philadelphia, Pa
Dec 29 -Clark was scheduled to spar at Philadelphia, Pa
1895
Feb 9 -Clark was scheduled to spar at Philadelphia, Pa
Mar 16 Mike Dee Philadelphia, Pa EX 4
-Some sources report "ND 4"
Mar 21 Mike Dee Philadelphia, Pa EX
Apr 20 George Simmons Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known;
Simmons was five years old
Apr 20 Joe Gormley Philadelphia, Pa EX
-Gormley was thirteen years old
Apr 27 Joe Gormley Philadelphia, Pa EX
May 4 J. Conners Philadelphia, Pa EX
May 30 -Clark was scheduled to spar near Trenton, NJ
Jun 8 Alfred Clark near Trenton, NJ EX
-Alfred was John's young son
Sep Ed Vaughn near Trenton, NJ EX
-Clark sparred with Vaughn daily during Sep 1895
Sep Charles McKeever Trenton, NJ EX
-Clark sparred with McKeever daily during Sep 1895
Sep 27 -Clark seconded Ed Vaughn vs Tommy O'Donnell
at Trenton, NJ
Oct 7 Charles McKeever Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1896
Jan 20 -Clark was scheduled to have a benefit
at Philadelphia, Pa
Jul 9 Billy Payne Philadelphia, Pa W 4
Jul 15 Joe Dougherty Philadelphia, Pa LK 1
Jul 16 Charles "Bull" McCarthy Philadelphia, Pa L 6
Dec 24 Tom Reilly Philadelphia, Pa EX 3
*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***
1889
Aug 7 Frank Shipley Hot Springs, Ar LK 15
1890
Jan 7 Henry St. Clair Portland, Or KO
Apr 12 J. McNulty Oregon City, Or EX 4
May 20 Jim Brennan Ogden, Ut EX 4
Jun Jim Brennan Denver, Co W
Aug 18 Mike Conley Dallas, Tx EX
Dec Charles Porter Fort Worth, Tx KO
Dec J.A. Sullivan Fort Worth, Tx W
1891
Jun 25 "Texas" Jack Burke Ennis, Tx D 10