Long before his death in January, Brian Clark had already left an indelible mark on New Haven, especially in the Hill, where his Ring One Boxing gym helped set dozens of young people on the right path.
Now, supporters want to ensure his legacy as “a champion for youth” is etched into the neighborhood itself
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A proposal to designate the southeast corner of Congress Avenue and West Street as “Brian Clark Corner” unanimously cleared the City Plan Commission earlier this month and now heads to the Board of Alders. The proposal is expected to be considered by the City Services and Environmental Policy Committee on Sept. 4 before going to the full board for a final vote
More than 250 people signed a petition supporting the tribute to Clark, who died in January after more than two decades of heart and lung illness
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“Mr. Clark was a United States Navy veteran, boxing coach, mentor and community advocate whose life and work had a lasting impact,” Evelyn Rodriguez wrote.
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Hill Alder Evelyn Rodriguez, D-4, said Clark’s influence extended far beyond the boxing ring
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“Mr. Clark was a United States Navy veteran, boxing coach, mentor and community advocate whose life and work had a lasting impact on the Hill neighborhood and the City of New Haven,” Rodriguez wrote in a letter asking Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers to place the proposal on the agenda
“His legacy is closely tied to Ring One Boxing, Connecticut’s oldest continuously operating boxing gym, where he helped create a safe and supportive place for young people to develop discipline, confidence, character, and opportunity,” Rodriguez wrote
The proposed order similarly describes Ring One as “more than a gym,” calling it “a true community cornerstone that helped shape the lives of countless young people and families throughout New Haven.”
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Clark often used his own reuring it remained accessible to children who otherwise might not have had the opportunity to participate, the proposal states
Clark, a Danbury native who grew up in Orange, owned and operated Ring One Boxing on Congress Avenue since the 1990s. Over the years, he trained multiple national champions, including former light heavyweight world champion Chad “Bad Chad” Dawson and featherweight Tramaine Williams, while mentoring hundreds of young people from New Haven
He was inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame in 2018
Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame President Peter Hary welcomed the proposed street naming
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“That’s great that they’re naming the corner after Brian,” Hary said. “The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is thrilled to hear that Brian’s lasting legacy in the world of boxing will continue.”
The Hall of Fame also has renamed its Trainer of the Year Award in Clark’s honor. The first Brian Clark Trainer of the Year Award will be presented during the organization’s annual induction ceremony Oct. 10 at Mohegan Sun, Hary said
For those Clark mentored, the proposed street sign recognizes someone who served as far more than a coach
“I believe that corner should be named after Brian Clark,” said Williams, a New Haven native and Hillhouse High School graduate. “He was a pillar of the community. He was a dad to a bunch of kids who didn’t have dads.”
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Williams began training with Clark when he was 8 years old and said Clark shaped his life as much outside the ring as inside it
“He wanted me to be a better person than a fighter any day,” Williams said after Clark’s death. “To have principles, what it means to have integrity, a work ethic. … Slowly but surely he was my coach, then my friend, then a father figure.”
