Buster Mathis
Buster Mathis | |
---|---|
![]() Mathis (right) in Sweden in 1967 | |
Born | Buster Mathis (1943-06-11)June 11, 1943 Sledge, Mississippi, U.S. |
Died | September 6, 1995(1995-09-06) (aged 52) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Heavyweight |
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 34 |
Wins | 30 |
Wins by KO | 21 |
Losses | 4 |
Draws | 0 |
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]
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Buster_Mathis_vs_Roberto_Davila_1967.jpg/220px-Buster_Mathis_vs_Roberto_Davila_1967.jpg)
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
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
30 Wins (21 knockouts, 9 decisions), 4 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions)[12] | |||||||
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
Loss | 30–4 | ![]() | KO | 2 | 29 Sep 1972 | ![]() | Mathis knocked out at 2:58 of the second round. |
Win | 30–3 | ![]() | TKO | 3 | 5 Sep 1972 | ![]() | World Super Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:34 of the third round. |
Loss | 29–3 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 17 Nov 1971 | ![]() | WBC NABF Heavyweight Title. |
Loss | 29–2 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 24 Mar 1969 | ![]() | |
Win | 29–1 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 3 Feb 1969 | ![]() | |
Win | 28–1 | ![]() | TKO | 6 | 26 Sep 1968 | ![]() | Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the sixth round. |
Win | 27–1 | ![]() | UD | 10 | 16 Sep 1968 | ![]() | |
Win | 26–1 | ![]() | SD | 10 | 5 Sep 1968 | ![]() | |
Win | 25–1 | ![]() | TKO | 7 | 25 Jul 1968 | ![]() | |
Win | 24–1 | ![]() | TKO | 7 | 30 Apr 1968 | ![]() | Referee stopped the bout at 2:44 of the seventh round. |
Loss | 23–1 | ![]() | TKO | 11 | 4 Mar 1968 | ![]() | NYSAC World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:33 of the 11th round. |
Win | 23–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 | 26 Dec 1967 | ![]() | Bruyn knocked out at 0:36 of the first round.[16] |
Win | 22–0 | ![]() | TKO | 7 | 18 Nov 1967 | ![]() | |
Win | 21–0 | ![]() | TKO | 4 | 18 Sep 1967 | ![]() | Referee stopped the bout at 1:13 of the fourth round. |
Win | 20–0 | ![]() | KO | 5 | 2 Aug 1967 | ![]() | Heath knocked out at 1:16 of the fifth round. |
Win | 19–0 | ![]() | TKO | 5 | 23 May 1967 | ![]() | Referee stopped the bout at 2:09 of the fifth round. |
Win | 18–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 | 12 May 1967 | ![]() | |
Win | 17–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 | 6 Feb 1967 | ![]() | Thomas knocked out at 2:23 of the first round. |
Win | 16–0 | ![]() | KO | 2 | 17 Nov 1966 | ![]() | Andrews knocked out at 2:10 of the second round. |
Win | 15–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 | 2 Nov 1966 | ![]() | |
Win | 14–0 | ![]() | TKO | 3 | 28 Sep 1966 | ![]() | |
Win | 13–0 | ![]() | SD | 10 | 15 Sep 1966 | ![]() | |
Win | 12–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 | 29 Aug 1966 | ![]() | |
Win | 11–0 | ![]() | UD | 6 | 28 Jul 1966 | ![]() | |
Win | 10–0 | ![]() | KO | 2 | 23 Jun 1966 | ![]() | Copeland knocked out at 2:27 of the second round. |
Win | 9–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 | 16 Jun 1966 | ![]() | |
Win | 8–0 | ![]() | PTS | 6 | 16 Feb 1966 | ![]() | |
Win | 7–0 | ![]() | TKO | 5 | 19 Jan 1966 | ![]() | |
Win | 6–0 | ![]() | TKO | 3 | 7 Jan 1966 | ![]() | Referee stopped the bout at 1:58 of the third round. |
Win | 5–0 | ![]() | PTS | 6 | 15 Dec 1965 | ![]() | |
Win | 4–0 | ![]() | UD | 6 | 23 Sep 1965 | ![]() | |
Win | 3–0 | ![]() | PTS | 4 | 30 Aug 1965 | ![]() | |
Win | 2–0 | ![]() | TKO | 2 | 28 Aug 1965 | ![]() | Referee stopped the bout at 2:45 of the second round. |
Win | 1–0 | ![]() | TKO | 2 | 28 Jun 1965 | ![]() |
References
- ^ Frank Litsky (September 8, 1995). "Buster Mathis, Heavyweight Fighter, Dies at 51". The New York Times. p. B9.
- ^ "Buster Mathis | American boxer". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ "Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats". www.martialbot.com. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ "MATHIS, BUSTER-GEORGE CHUVALO WIRE PHOTO (1969)". JO Sports Inc. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ "All of Chuck Wepner's Losses". www.martialbot.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ "Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats". www.martialbot.com. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ "Muhammad Ali vs. Buster Mathis", Wikipedia, 2023-05-06, retrieved 2023-05-21
- ^ "Frazier vs Mathis Boxing Stats". boxstat.co. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ "Buster Mathis Jr.'s Best Fights". www.martialbot.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
- ^ Moyle, Clay (2007-07-30). "Joe Frazier (1944-2011)". Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ "Joe Frazier | Biography & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ a b c "BoxRec". boxrec.com.
- ^ Maule, Tex (1971-11-09). "Got To Look Good To Allah". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
- ^ "Buster Mathis Story | Bokssport | Train with Buster Mathis in Grand Rapids". Bokssport. Archived from the original on 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
- ^ "Buster Mathis, Former Ali Opponent, Dies at 51". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 1995.
- ^ 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.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Boxing record for Buster Mathis from BoxRec (registration required)