Amateur Born and raised in
Croy,
Scotland, one of ten children, his father Billy was a former Scottish professional champion and his uncle Jim an amateur champion. He was a member of Croy Miners Amateur Boxing Club. Clinton represented Great Britain as a Flyweight at the 1984
Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Results were: • Round of 32: Defeated
Leonard Makhanya (Swaziland) by decision, 5–0 • Round of 16: Lost to
Redzep Redzepovski (Yugoslavia) by second-round knockout Clinton was also the
Amateur Boxing Association of England flyweight champion in 1984 and 1985.
Professional Clinton turned professional in 1985, his first pro fight a points victory over Gordon Stobie in October that year. After winning his first eleven fights, he won his first title in September 1987, stopping Joe Kelly to take the vacant
BBBofC Scottish Area flyweight title. In his next fight he again faced Kelly with Clinton's Scottish Area title and the vacant British title at stake. Clinton won on points this time to become British champion. In February 1989, Clinton faced
Eyüp Can for the vacant European title, losing a unanimous decision. He made successful defences of his British title against
Danny Porter and
David Afan Jones before getting a second shot at the European title in August 1990; Clinton took a majority decision against
Salvatore Fanni in
Cagliari to take the vacant European title. In March 1992, Clinton challenged for the
WBO world flyweight title held by
Isidro Pérez at the
Kelvin Hall in Glasgow. Clinton took a split decision to become WBO world champion. In September 1992 he successfully defended the world title against Porter, but lost it in May 1993 when he was stopped by
Jacob Matlala in the eighth round at the
Scottish Exhibition Centre. He retired at the age of 30 with a professional record of 20 wins and three losses. In his thirties, as a result of perforated eardrums suffered during his boxing career, Clinton suffered
tinnitus and started to lose his hearing, and had to start wearing a
hearing aid at the age of 33. He returned to his trade as a
joiner before going on to work as a salesman for
British Gas. == References ==