Historical Summer 2009 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
At their 15th Annual Boxing Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on April 18, 2009, the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation inducted one of our neighborhood’s own, Clifford Westbrook, into the St. Louis Boxing Hall of Fame. Cliff, who lives in the 6100 block of Westminster, started boxing in 1968 at the Caprice Recreational Center, under the guidance of Coach Jim Merrel.
In 1968, he won sub-novice city championship, weight class 112.
In 1969, he won the Springfield Tournament of Champions at 112 novice weight class. Through his 8-year boxing career, he fought in weight classes 112, 118, 126, 139, and 147, all open. Along with his championship trophies, he has received Most Outstanding trophy and the Most Improved trophy through the City of St. Louis Tournament.
He previously received the Team Leadership Trophy. Cliff especially enjoyed the time training and sparring with professional fighters. Cliff and his wife Linda are the proud parents of five children, Maricia, Tommy Michael, LaShanda, and Clifford, Jr. Cliff worked in construction for eight years and has 20 years of food service and restaurant management experience at BJC and Crown Plaza.
He says that presently his gloves have been replaced with his King James Bible as he enjoys living his Christian lifestyle. Congratulations to Cliff from all his neighbors, friends and admirers!
Original photograph caption
Clifford Westbrook. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2009.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed list says five children but Tommy Michael punctuation is ambiguous; source wording retained without invented separator.
Original source: SD_Times2009_06.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
