By Dana Williams
With swift lateral movements and a fierce look on her face before and after each jab, Clark showed that she's still a force to be reckoned with.
The Baldwin resident spoke about her boxing techniques and debut book, "Ka-Pow! Get The Record Straight," last Wednesday at the Baldwin Public Library. Clark discussed the history of women's boxing, and how she broke barriers in a male dominated sport, telling the audience that anything is possible if you continue to pursue your dreams.
Clark's love for boxing began at the age of 13 when she often watched the sport with her father, Elmer Pickell. Clark told stories about how she used fight with the boys in her neighborhood - a pugilist in the making.
"I was a tomboy and anyone who came up to me, I was ready to fight them," she said. "I used to tell everyone that when I get older, I am going to be a boxing champion. That was my dream." She later mentioned that her goal was ridiculed by many because boxing was a male dominated sport, but she said she never gave up on her aspiration.
After training at the legendary Gleason's Gym in New York City - once home to boxing champions Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson - Clark said she officially entered the professional boxing world by fighting in places like Canada and Nova Scotia in 1978. A year later, she said she came one step closer to her achieving dream when she received the chance to fight for the vacant Women's Boxing Federation Light-Heavyweight title. The coveted bout was against Jackie Tonawanda, one of the first female boxers to get a boxing license in New York State and the first woman to fight in Madison Square Garden.
As the underdog in the fight, Clark - who is now 54 - was expected to lose, but she said she dominated over Tonawanda throughout the six-round fight and won by a unanimous decision. "After I heard my name, I ran and jumped into my trainer's arms," she said. "Although I won, I never received a belt. I was very disappointed because I trained very hard for that fight, but I was still happy that I walked away with the title."
Since Clark's official retirement in 1985, controversy has escalated between the two female fighters, after Tonawanda publicly stated that she is the former light heavyweight champion. In Clark's self-published book, she said she discusses her life experiences but more importantly, she attempts to "set the record straight" about her fight against Tonawanda.
"I beat Tonawanda in that fight, and I am the former light heavyweight world champion," Clark said.
Former Women's Lightweight Champion Marian "Lady Tyger" Trimiar - also one of the first three women to get a boxing license in New York and who also fought Clark - said that she remembered when Tonawanda lost to Clark, but she was not "absolutely sure if it was a championship fight."
"There was so much sexism when women fought back then, and the next day after our fights, we received little press coverage," she said. "That press coverage would help to show records that these kinds of fights took place and it's terrible that she [Clark] wasn't given a belt."
Although the Women's Boxing Federation Ratings show Clark to be the winner, the light heavyweight title is continuously accredited to Tonawanda during various women's boxing events. Clark said that is an insult to all of the hard work she put into training and winning the title fight because someone else is receiving the credit.
"I was told by 'Lady Tiger' Trimiar that Clark beat Tonawanda, and I have yet to find proof of Tonawanda's claim that she has a 36-1 boxing record either," said Sue "Tiger Lilly" Fox, a former three-time world welterweight boxing champion and creator of the Women's Boxing Archive Network. "To this day, I invite Jackie to set the record straight because as of right now, the Women's Boxing Archive Network does not know of any females that she has beaten."
Tonawanda could not be reached for a comment.
Many people at the library event asked Clark if she would fight Tonawanda again to settle the longtime dispute. Clark said the only reason she would come out of retirement, however, is to regain the light heavyweight title, which is currently held by boxer Laila Ali, daughter of the three time World Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.
Still, Clark currently spends hours each day throwing punches and getting herself into shape at Synergy Fitness Club in Baldwin. "She [Clark] still has the strength and power to make a comeback," said Eddie Cruz, a trainer at the club and a former two-time boxing Golden Gloves champion. "She just needs to work on her conditioning, which is difficult, but she can do it."
