Wikipedia

Buster Mathis

Buster Mathis (June 11, 1943 – September 6, 1995[1]) was an American boxer who competed from 1965 to 1972.[2] He was a top contender throughout his career, beating other top contenders including George Chuvalo and Chuck Wepner.[3][4][5] He fought Heavyweight greats such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry and Ron Lyle;[6][7][8][9] he also notably beat Joe Frazier as an amateur to qualify for the Olympics but was later replaced due to a hand injury. [10][11]

Buster Mathis
Mathis (right) in Sweden in 1967
Born
Buster Mathis

(1943-06-11)June 11, 1943
Sledge, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedSeptember 6, 1995(1995-09-06) (aged 52)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Reach76 in (193 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights34
Wins30
Wins by KO21
Losses4
Draws0

Career

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Mathis (back) vs. Roberto Davila in 1967

Mathis had a successful career as an amateur heavyweight boxer. He qualified for a spot in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics but had to withdraw due to an injury. He was replaced in the tournament by Joe Frazier, who went on to win the gold medal.

Mathis turned professional in June 1965 with a second round knockout victory over Bob Maynard. He went on to win his next 22 contests as well and qualified for a shot at the New York State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Title, which had become vacant after Muhammad Ali was stripped of the title for refusing to be drafted into the United States Army.[12]

The title fight was held on March 4, 1968, in New York's Madison Square Garden against "Smoking" Joe Frazier, his old rival. Frazier won by an 11th-round knockout.[citation needed]

Mathis continued to fight in the following years, outpointing George Chuvalo, but losing on points to Jerry Quarry - a fight Mathis was favored to win. Mathis retired after losing to Quarry in 1969, but he returned in 1971 to box Muhammad Ali for the NABF belt, losing on points over 12 rounds.[12] Ali was later criticized for not finishing Mathis in the final rounds of the fight.[13]

After Mathis was knocked out in just two rounds in September 1972 by Ron Lyle, he retired for good.[14]

Retirement

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A 1980 Sports Illustrated article featured interviews with Mathis and many of Muhammad Ali's other opponents.[citation needed] It reported Mathis worked in the trucking business after he retired from the ring. [citation needed]

Mathis had various health problems in later years, including two strokes, a heart attack, and kidney failure. He died of heart failure at age 52.[15] His son Buster Mathis Jr. became a professional boxer and fought Mike Tyson in 1995.

Professional boxing record

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30 Wins (21 knockouts, 9 decisions), 4 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions)[12]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 30–4   Ron Lyle KO 2 29 Sep 1972   Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado Mathis knocked out at 2:58 of the second round.
Win 30–3   Humphrey McBride TKO 3 5 Sep 1972   Oklahoma City, Oklahoma World Super Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:34 of the third round.
Loss 29–3   Muhammad Ali UD 12 17 Nov 1971   Astrodome, Houston, Texas WBC NABF Heavyweight Title.
Loss 29–2   Jerry Quarry UD 12 24 Mar 1969   Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win 29–1   George Chuvalo UD 12 3 Feb 1969   Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win 28–1   J.J. Woody TKO 6 26 Sep 1968   Madison Square Garden, New York City Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the sixth round.
Win 27–1   Dick Wipperman UD 10 16 Sep 1968   County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Win 26–1   Amos Lincoln SD 10 5 Sep 1968   Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win 25–1   J.J. Beattie TKO 7 25 Jul 1968   Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
Win 24–1   M.J. Turnbow TKO 7 30 Apr 1968   Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida Referee stopped the bout at 2:44 of the seventh round.
Loss 23–1   Joe Frazier TKO 11 4 Mar 1968   Madison Square Garden, New York City NYSAC World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:33 of the 11th round.
Win 23–0   Gerry de Bruyn KO 1 26 Dec 1967   Frolundaborg, Gothenburg Bruyn knocked out at 0:36 of the first round.[16]
Win 22–0   Roberto Davila TKO 7 18 Nov 1967   Johanneshov, Stockholm
Win 21–0   Ron Marsh TKO 4 18 Sep 1967   Madison Square Garden, New York City Referee stopped the bout at 1:13 of the fourth round.
Win 20–0   Wayne Heath KO 5 2 Aug 1967   Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California Heath knocked out at 1:16 of the fifth round.
Win 19–0   Sonny S.D. Moore TKO 5 23 May 1967   Saint Louis, Missouri Referee stopped the bout at 2:09 of the fifth round.
Win 18–0   Ed "Baker Boy" Hurley KO 1 12 May 1967   Detroit, Michigan
Win 17–0   Waban Thomas KO 1 6 Feb 1967   Astrodome, Houston, Texas Thomas knocked out at 2:23 of the first round.
Win 16–0   E.S. Andrews KO 2 17 Nov 1966   Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine Andrews knocked out at 2:10 of the second round.
Win 15–0   Johnny Barazza KO 1 2 Nov 1966   Civic Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Win 14–0   Earl Averette TKO 3 28 Sep 1966   Cambria County War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Win 13–0   Bob Stallings SD 10 15 Sep 1966   Armory, Akron, Ohio
Win 12–0   Mert Brownfield KO 1 29 Aug 1966   Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 11–0   Charley E. Chase UD 6 28 Jul 1966   Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
Win 10–0   Everett Copeland KO 2 23 Jun 1966   Madison Square Garden, New York City Copeland knocked out at 2:27 of the second round.
Win 9–0   Tom Swift KO 1 16 Jun 1966   Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
Win 8–0   Charley Polite PTS 6 16 Feb 1966   Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York
Win 7–0   Mike Bruce TKO 5 19 Jan 1966   Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York
Win 6–0   Chuck Wepner TKO 3 7 Jan 1966   Madison Square Garden, New York City Referee stopped the bout at 1:58 of the third round.
Win 5–0   Charlie Lee PTS 6 15 Dec 1965   Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York
Win 4–0   Bob Stallings UD 6 23 Sep 1965   Grand Rapids, Michigan
Win 3–0   Bob Maynard PTS 4 30 Aug 1965   Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win 2–0   Johnny Shore TKO 2 28 Aug 1965   Rock Island, Quebec Referee stopped the bout at 2:45 of the second round.
Win 1–0   Bob Maynard TKO 2 28 Jun 1965   Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec

References

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  1. ^ Frank Litsky (September 8, 1995). "Buster Mathis, Heavyweight Fighter, Dies at 51". The New York Times. p. B9.
  2. ^ "Buster Mathis | American boxer". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  3. ^ "Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats". www.martialbot.com. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  4. ^ "MATHIS, BUSTER-GEORGE CHUVALO WIRE PHOTO (1969)". JO Sports Inc. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  5. ^ "All of Chuck Wepner's Losses". www.martialbot.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  6. ^ "Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats". www.martialbot.com. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  7. ^ "Muhammad Ali vs. Buster Mathis", Wikipedia, 2023-05-06, retrieved 2023-05-21
  8. ^ "Frazier vs Mathis Boxing Stats". boxstat.co. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  9. ^ "Buster Mathis Jr.'s Best Fights". www.martialbot.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  10. ^ Moyle, Clay (2007-07-30). "Joe Frazier (1944-2011)". Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  11. ^ "Joe Frazier | Biography & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  12. ^ a b c "BoxRec". boxrec.com.
  13. ^ Maule, Tex (1971-11-09). "Got To Look Good To Allah". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  14. ^ "Buster Mathis Story | Bokssport | Train with Buster Mathis in Grand Rapids". Bokssport. Archived from the original on 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  15. ^ "Buster Mathis, Former Ali Opponent, Dies at 51". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 1995.
  16. ^ AP Archive (24 July 2015). "SYND 27 12 67 35 Second Heavyweight Boxing Match Between Buster Mathis and Gerry de Bruyn". Archived from the original on 2021-12-11 – via YouTube.
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