Lamar Parks

Parks was born on March 17, 1970. His family moved to Greenville, South Carolina when he was three years old.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/192534172|title=Parks: no-fight rule as a child|work=The Greenville News|date=July 7, 1992|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=29|via=Newspapers.com}} His father, David, resisted the idea of his son fighting because he was afraid he would get hurt, but he eventually let him train under Silas Epps at the Phillis Wheatley Community Center in 1983.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/192965192|title=Greenville's Parks ready for the fight of his life|work=The Greenville News|date=October 25, 1992|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=41|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/746877730|title=Obscure sports garner some time in spotlight|work=Columbia Record|first=Bob|last=Gillespie|date=July 26, 1984|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=14|via=Newspapers.com}} David was a former amateur boxer who had to cut his career short due to rheumatic fever; he eventually quit his job at Duke Power to help train his son.

Parks made his amateur debut at the age of 13, scoring a second-round knockout. Within a year, he became the South Carolina state champion in his age group. In 1984 he reached the semifinals of a regional Junior Olympic tournament in Sumter, South Carolina,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/189595837|title=Parks loses decision|work=The Greenville News|date=June 8, 1984|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=63|via=Newspapers.com}} then won a gold medal at the Palmetto State Games. In 1985 he returned to the same Junior Olympic tournament in Atlanta, taking first place and qualifying for the National Junior Olympics. He won the Southern Golden Gloves title at light middleweight in 1986.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/774625574|title=Morgan takes crown, puts on tux for prom|work=Knoxville News Sentinel|first=Chuck|last=Cavalaris|date=April 20, 1986|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=30|via=Newspapers.com}} At the 1987 Southern Golden Gloves, Parks captured the middleweight title and was named the best boxer of the tournament.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/774826440|title=Three Knoxville boxers win|work=Knoxville News Sentinel|first=Nick|last=Gates|date=March 22, 1987|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=33|via=Newspapers.com}} He was named best boxer again the following year after winning yet another Southern title.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/774789137|title=Gloves|work=Knoxville News Sentinel|first=Chuck|last=Cavalaris|date=April 17, 1988|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=33|via=Newspapers.com}} He also reached the semifinals of the 1988 Olympic Trials, where he lost a decision to John Scully of New England.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/191935777|title=Against the wind|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=July 6, 1991|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=15|via=Newspapers.com}} Parks won 175 of his 188 amateur bouts, claiming five South Carolina Golden Gloves championships and three Southeast regional titles.

Parks graduated from Greenville High School and briefly studied electronics engineering at Greenville Technical College.

Parks made his professional debut on October 4, 1988, defeating Lennell Stroman by unanimous decision (UD) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His father doubled as his manager and trainer, but he also brought along his childhood trainer Silas Epps. Parks defeated former National Golden Gloves champion Fabian Williams in his fourth pro bout, losing the opening four rounds before stopping Williams in the fifth. In his tenth fight, he defeated Chris Sande by fifth-round technical knockout (TKO) to hand the 1988 Olympic bronze medallist his first pro defeat.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/407159358|title=Flashes|work=New York Daily News|date=April 30, 1990|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=49|via=Newspapers.com}} Parks quit the sport following the win due to his discouragement over a lack of exposure and opportunities, but returned about six months later. He connected with a friend in Memphis, Tennessee, where he met Madison Square Garden promoter Bobby Goodman and was able to secure a one-year deal.

After 16 straight wins to start his career, Parks captured the vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight title when he scored a UD victory over Lenzie Morgan on July 6, 1991 in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/191937375|title='Kidfire' Parks wins unanimous decision against Morgan|work=The Greenville News|first=Woody|last=White|date=July 7, 1991|access-date=February 18, 2022|page=38|via=Newspapers.com}} He then stopped Donny Giron five months later via sixth-round TKO for the vacant WBC–NABF middleweight title.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/191987187|title=Parks wins title on 6th-round TKO|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=December 6, 1991|access-date=February 18, 2022|page=31|via=Newspapers.com}} In his next fight, he knocked out two-time Olympian Francisco de Jesus in a lopsided bout in New York City to improve his record to 20–0.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/706361507|title=Parks Wins Mismatch|work=Newsday|first=Bob|last=Glauber|date=February 19, 1992|access-date=February 18, 2022|page=134|via=Newspapers.com}} On April 16, 1992, Parks defeated Percy Harris to retain his NABF belt and win the vacant IBF–USBA middleweight title, forcing a referee stoppage in the tenth round.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/192456699|title='Kidfire' scores TKO in 10th|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=April 17, 1992|access-date=February 18, 2022|page=19|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/551405409|title=Parks stops Harris in 10 rounds|work=Reporter Times|date=April 17, 1992|access-date=February 18, 2022|page=7|via=Newspapers.com}} By this time he was ranked as the second-best middleweight in the world by the WBC, as well as the fourth-best by both the WBA and IBF.

On October 27, 1992, a 22-year-old Parks challenged Reggie Johnson for the WBA middleweight title at The Summit in Houston, losing the fight by unanimous decision.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/192967881|title='Kidfire' beaten in 12|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=October 28, 1992|access-date=February 19, 2022|page=35|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/152782470|title=Favored challenger fails to unseat middleweight champ|work=Reno Gazette-Journal|first=Steve|last=Sneddon|date=October 28, 1992|access-date=February 19, 2022|page=35|via=Newspapers.com}} Johnson preferred the more lucrative title defense against Roy Jones Jr., but Parks forced the fight as the WBA's {{abbr|No.|number}} 1 contender and earned a reported $40,000 in his first career defeat. In a 2015 interview with The Ring, Johnson called Parks the best puncher and the best jabber he ever faced.{{cite news|url=https://www.ringtv.com/393733-best-ive-faced-reggie-johnson/|title=Best I've faced: Reggie Johnson|work=The Ring|first=Coyote|last=Duran|date=July 8, 2015|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115092640/https://www.ringtv.com/393733-best-ive-faced-reggie-johnson/|archive-date=November 15, 2016|url-status=live}} On August 10, 1993, Parks defeated Gilbert Baptist in his hometown of Greenville for the vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight title, forcing his opponent's trainer to throw in the towel in the 11th round after landing 18 straight punches.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/192538076|title='Kidfire' burns Baptist|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=August 11, 1993|access-date=February 19, 2022|page=60|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/69947384|title=Parks wins by KO|work=Index-Journal|date=August 11, 1993|access-date=February 20, 2022|page=7|via=Newspapers.com}} He stopped Joaquín Velásquez in four rounds in a tune-up fight in Atlantic City that November.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/192457258|title='Kidfire' Parks wins by KO|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=November 3, 1993|access-date=February 20, 2022|page=35|via=Newspapers.com}} This would end up being the final fight of his career, finishing with a 27–1 record with 21 knockouts.

Now ranked as the No. 1 contender by all three major sanctioning organizations (WBC, WBA and IBF), Parks positioned himself as the mandatory challenger for Gerald McClellan's WBC middleweight title.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/192418174|title='Kidfire' Parks faces chance to make mark|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=November 24, 1993|access-date=February 20, 2022|page=24|via=Newspapers.com}} He was also the mandatory challenger for Roy Jones Jr.'s IBF middleweight title, though they were reportedly reluctant to face each other due to the fact that they were childhood sparring partners and remained good friends.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/192255412|title=Keeping up with Jones|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=June 2, 1993|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=59|via=Newspapers.com}} The Parks–McClellan world title bout was announced as a part of a Don King-promoted card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to be held on March 4, 1994,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/199685653|title=The night of the title fights|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=January 12, 1994|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=38|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/199531687|title=Parks may headline Las Vegas fight night|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=February 2, 1994|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=26|via=Newspapers.com}} with Parks set to make over $150,000.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/193615952|title=Parks|work=The Greenville News|first1=Tim|last1=Luke|first2=Willie T.|last2=Smith III|date=October 1, 1994|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=17|via=Newspapers.com}} They were slated to be the main event on a card with five world title bouts,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/199630156|title='Kidfire' Parks out of title bout|work=The Greenville News|first=Tim|last=Luke|date=February 23, 1994|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=16|via=Newspapers.com}} and Parks relocated to Fort Pierce, Florida for training camp in January.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/752454426|title=AIDS takes life of boxer's ex-fiancee, leaves career in the ring in limbo|work=The State|first=Ernie|last=Trubiano|date=September 30, 1994|access-date=February 22, 2022|page=10|via=Newspapers.com}} However, he pulled out of the fight for unspecified medical reasons and a contract was sent to undefeated middleweight contender Otis Grant instead.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/424531341|title=Boxer Grant's world title dream is put on hold|work=Montreal Gazette|first=Herb|last=Zurkowski|date=February 18, 1994|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=6|via=Newspapers.com}} Before Grant's camp could respond to the offer, Parks claimed to have recovered from a shoulder injury he had apparently suffered in training. He even passed a physical in mid-February to indicate the fight was back on. Just few days later though, Parks pulled out yet again after supposedly re-injuring the same shoulder on the day before he was supposed to leave for the fight. His last-minute replacement, Gilbert Baptist, was stopped by McClellan in 97 seconds in Las Vegas and immediately announced his retirement following the loss.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/497072225|title=Champ quick to defend title|work=The Record|date=March 6, 1994|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=8|via=Newspapers.com}} Parks stayed silent over the following months, refusing to talk to the media{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/669429579|title=AIDS lays waste to 2 lives|work=The State|first=Ernie|last=Trubiano|date=September 30, 1994|access-date=February 22, 2022|page=1|via=Newspapers.com}} or even his promoters. He became withdrawn and stopped going to the gym as rumors circulated in the boxing world.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/495593050|title=Middleweight Parks fails HIV test prior to pulling out of fight|work=Vancouver Sun|first=Graham|last=Houston|date=October 14, 1994|access-date=February 22, 2022|page=69|via=Newspapers.com}}

{{quote box | width=30em | bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | align=right | quote=

He was a terribly ambitious kid when it came to his goals in the ring and in life. He was just beginning to realize his potential. Nobody knows how much potential the kid really has. He was almost a millionaire and lost it all. In fact, we all lost. |source= — His promoter, Bobby Goodman}}

{{quote box | width=30em | bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | align=right | quote=

He was strong, the strongest I’d ever seen. All we had to work on was speed. When his daddy came down here, I said, "You got yourself a champion." And it would have happened. That’s what he would have been.” |source= — His trainer, Silas Epps{{cite news|url=https://www.poz.com/article/Down-for-the-Count-1836-6490|title=Down for the Count|work=POZ|first=Bruce|last=Shoenfeld|date=June 1, 1995|access-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715093726/https://www.poz.com/article/Down-for-the-Count-1836-6490|archive-date=July 15, 2018|url-status=live}}}}

On August 27, 1994, Samantha Clark, Parks' ex-fiancee, died in Greenville at the age of 23 due to complications with AIDS; she weighed 64 pounds. In an interview with The State nine days before her death, Clark said Parks was the only man she had ever been with and accused him of giving her the virus.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/474076930|title=Boxing's deadly secret|work=New York Daily News|first=Michael|last=Katz|author-link=Michael Katz (journalist)|date=October 6, 1994|access-date=February 22, 2022|page=233|via=Newspapers.com}} She decided to go public with her condition in order to protect other women, with Clark's mother calling him a "deadly weapon" who had to be stopped. The couple had begun dating in November 1990 and became engaged in February 1992, moving in together later that year. According to Clark's mother, Parks had other girlfriends. Clark occasionally saw him around town with other women, but she remained with him. In June 1993, Clark tested positive for HIV and informed Parks over the phone, since he was in New York City training for a fight at the time. He replied that she should ignore the results because the doctors "[didn't] know what they're talking about." He fought three more times after this; HIV tests were not mandatory for these because they were not major title fights. In February 1994, Parks tested positive himself during a routine medical test in Florida in the lead-up to the McClellan fight.{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Kevin|title=War, Baby: The Glamour of Violence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtA-7V6MWLUC|publisher=Random House|date=1995|page=49|isbn=9781448112562}} He had a friend take a second test under his name back in Greenville, where proof of identification was not required. However, he did not travel to Las Vegas because Nevada requested a second test done by their own doctors, so his team fabricated a shoulder injury and pulled him out of the fight.

Just over a month after Clark's death, Parks' father confirmed that his son's career was over.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/193613660|title=Parks' father says son's boxing career is over|work=The Greenville News|first1=Tim|last1=Luke|first2=Willie T.|last2=Smith III|date=October 1, 1994|access-date=February 21, 2022|page=35|via=Newspapers.com}} He was the most notable of a recent string of professional boxers to have tested positive for HIV, such as Proud Kilimanjaro and Rubén Darío Palacio.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/474076930|title=Four boxers reported with HIV|work=New York Daily News|first=Michael|last=Katz|author-link=Michael Katz (journalist)|date=October 6, 1994|access-date=February 22, 2022|page=233|via=Newspapers.com}} Randy Gordon, commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission, said that he hoped the situation increased AIDS awareness in the boxing community and led to more testing requirements. In 1995, Parks was reported to be living in a small town near Greenville and running a small business.

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Category:Living people

Category:American male boxers

Category:African-American boxers

Category:Light-middleweight boxers

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Category:Boxers from South Carolina

Category:Sportspeople from Greenville, South Carolina

Category:1970 births

Category:20th-century American sportsmen