Buster Mathis

Buster Mathis (June 11, 1943 – September 6, 1995) was an American boxer.

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

Career

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. Buster Mathis 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.

The Title fight was to be held March 4, 1968, in New York's Madison Square Garden against 'smoking' Joe Frazier, his old rival. Frazier won by 11th-round knockout.

Buster Mathis continued to fight in the following years, outpointing George Chuvalo, but losing on points to Jerry Quarry - a fight Mathis was favoured to win. Mathis retired after losing to Quarry in 1969, but returned in 1971 to box Muhammad Ali for the NABF belt, losing on points over 12 rounds. Ali was later criticized for not finishing Mathis in the final rounds of the fight.[1]

After Mathis was knocked out in just two rounds in September 1972 by Ron Lyle, he retired for good.[2]

Retirement

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

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.

Professional boxing record
30 Wins (21 knockouts, 9 decisions), 4 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions)[3]
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. 105–118, 104–118, 108–119
Loss 29–2 Jerry Quarry UD 12 24 Mar 1969 Madison Square Garden, New York City 2–9, 1–10, 1–10
Win 29–1 George Chuvalo UD 12 3 Feb 1969 Madison Square Garden, New York City 10–2, 9–3, 8–3
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 9–1, 11–0, 4–5
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.[4]
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

Personal life

His son Buster Mathis Jr. was to later become a successful fighter, and was to take on Mike Tyson in 1995.

Notes
  1. Maule, Tex (1971-11-09). "Got To Look Good To Allah". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  2. "Buster Mathis Story | Bokssport | Train with Buster Mathis in Grand Rapids". Bokssport. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  3. "BoxRec". boxrec.com.
  4. AP Archive (24 July 2015). "SYND 27 12 67 35 SECOND HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING MATCH BETWEEN BUSTER MATHIS AND GERRY DE BRUYN" – via YouTube.
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