Tributes for Mitchell Clark: The boxing community mourns KI fatal crash victim

The country’s boxing community is mourning Mitchell Clark, a legend in the sport, after he died in a horrific truck crash on KI. Watch the moving tribute here.

Hundreds stood in solidarity as a 10-bell salute rang out at a Sydney arena for former pro boxer Mitchell Clark, who last week died in a Kangaroo Island crash.

No Limit Boxings’s latest event at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion hosted the tribute to Clark.

The 27-year-old was driving along Christmas St near Penneshaw about 8am Tuesday April 5 when he crashed down an embankment and flipped on to rocks.

Clark, an employee of False Cape Wines and a KI local, was driving a large truck and heroically sounded the horn multiple times as he lost control of the truck to warn others in his path. He died at the scene.

KI fatal victim Mitchell Clark., Picture: Marty Camilleri, Marty's Knockout Photography

Friend and opponent Jayde Mitchell said he shared a bond with Clark after they both fought as two undefeated up and comers for the Victorian championship title in 2015.

“There’s something that only fighters will understand, is, there’s a mutual respect you have for one and another and it’s a bond that we’ll share for the rest of our lives and it just feels like that’s gone now,” Mitchell told The Advertiser.

“Mitch doesn’t get to grow old with his girls now and I just pictured us down the track talking about our girls and our families, it’s just so sad.”

Mitchell said Clark was his first real opponent in the sport, and was extremely tough.

“He’s probably the hardest puncher I’ve ever faced, he had fists on him like a heavy weighter, he had to have extra large modified gloves to fit his hands,” Mitchell, 36, said.

“The way Mitch fought is the polar opposite to the person that the was, he was an absolute brute in the ring, and you couldn’t meet a nicer person outside the ring.”

Clark retired from his professional career in the sport in 2019, during which he won the IBF Pan Pacific Light Heavyweight title among other titles across five years in the sport.

He first became involved in boxing at age 9.

KI fatal victim Mitchell Clark. Picture: Marty Camilleri, Marty's Knockout Photography

Former pro-boxer and legend in the sport Barry Michael said he was shocked to hear Clark had died.

Best known for his 1985 IBF super-featherweight championship win against Lester Ellis, Michael was Clark’s part time manager and promoter.

“He was a great kid, and I just can’t believe he’s gone,” Michael said.

“It’s just a terrible and shocking thing to happen.”

Team Ellis, a major Melbourne based boxing promotion and events organisation, posted a touching tribute and video to social media in Clark’s memory.

“Extremely saddening news for Team Ellis Boxing, the wide boxing community, and the family and friends of our late great fighter Mitchell Clark,” a social media post from Team Ellis wrote.

His devastated partner, Georgia Weatherspoon farewelled the love of her life and the “most beautiful soul” earlier this week.