Book on Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrritt

[Bill Paxtom]

Monday Night ~ March 4, 1974

Jeff 'Candy Clim' Merritt vs. Henry 'Baby Face' Clark

Oakland Coliseum Arena ~ Oakland, California

* Attendance........ 1572
* Gate Receipts.... $11,414

The Fight

Jeff Merritt charged from his corner, and came 3/4 of the way across the Ring, where he met Henry Clark 'head on', who was
coming out of his corner.

Jeff wound up and landed a grazing left-right, as Henry countered with a left-jab and right-hand.

Jeff then wound up again, just as Henry countered and exploded a powerful left-hook that landed on Jeff's exposed chin.

Henry's punch landed 'flush' on Jeff's chin, sending him reeling backwards across Center-Ring and down on his haunhes.

Jeff got up to his feet at the '8-Count' as Referee - Tony Bostich gave him the 'Mandatory Count'.

Jeff was 'dazed and confused' as he got up on wobbly legs. The action continued at the {0:19 Mark}.

Henry came at Jeff with a blaze, and landed a vicious volley of punches that sent Jeff reeling across
the Ring and to the right-side Ropes.

Jeff 'stunned', tried to grab the top Rope-strand with his left hand as he was reeling backwards from
a punch. At that moment, Henry unloaded a vicious right-hand to Jeff's exposed chin.

Jeff then crashed backwards to the canvas in a heap at the {0:37 Mark}.

Referee - Tony Bosnich started the count, and as he got to '10' he called it over as Jeff was just trying
to get up.

'Winner' > Henry Clark by Knockout @ 0:47 of the 1st Round.
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George Foreman who was in attendance commented >

"That was supposed to be the guy that I was afraid of. They offered me $50,000 back in July 1971 to fight him. I should
have taken it."

"Now Henry moves up to the next slot. After I get rid of Ken Norton on March 26th, we'll see if we can put together a bout
between Henry and myself here in Oakland. With that Knockout tonight, he earned a Championship Bout."