Elky Clark former 1920's British and European flyweight champion and World title challenger to Fidel LaBarba SIGNED and INSCRIBED "With best wishes from Elky Clark Flyweight Champion of Great Britain and Europe" black & white promotional 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" photo.

Elky Clark vs Fidel LaBarba, World Flyweight Title.
21st January 1927, Madison Square Garden, New York.

LaBarba W pts over 12 rounds
Clark was battered from gong to gong of 12 merciless rounds. Five times the "ripping punches" of LaBarba tumbled the weak and dizzy Clark to the canvas. Clark then retires due to an eye that was severely damaged during this bout.

Condition very good (faded with staining, with a crease bottom right & top left, small piece missing bottom left)

Price: £135

Elky Clark, Alias: William Clark. Born: 1898-01-04. Died: 1956-09-22 (Age:58). Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Elky Clark literally had to be pushed into the boxing game around 1924-1925, when he was physically pushed into the tournament for the then-new Lord Lonsdale Belt offered by the National Sporting Club of London.

Clark won the British flyweight title in 1924 upon the retirement of Jimmy Wilde and retired undefeated champion in 1927. He won the European title by defeating the Belgian, Michel Montreuil, on points over 20 rounds in Glasgow in 1925 and forfeited the championship following a 20-round points win over Francois Morracchini of Italy in 1926. He lost to Fidel LaBarba for the world title in 1927.

He immediately retired after his bout with Fidel LaBarba because of a severe eye injury he sustained during the fight. It is ironic, because LaBarba would eventually have to retire from boxing himself after his right eye was severely damaged while training for his bout with Kid Chocolate in late 1932.