Buster Mathis
| Buster Mathis | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Buster Mathis |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
| Nationality |
 American
|
| Born |
June 11, 1943 Sledge, Mississippi |
| Died | September 6, 1995 (aged 52) Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| 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) was a boxer who had a very successful career as an amateur heavyweight boxer. He qualified for a spot in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. However, he was injured and was unable to compete there. Instead of him, the fighter Mathis beat in the Olympic Trials went to the Olympics. This fighter was the legendary Joe Frazier, who went on to win the gold medal.
Mathis was an impressive hulking figure who often fought at around 245lbs. He was surprisingly agile, with good boxing skill and respected power. His combination punches were fast and accurate too.
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. Both boxers were unbeaten as professionals, so tension was high. Ring magazine noted that Mathis had built up useful experience on a range of mostly competent but non ranked opponents, whilst Frazier had been thrown in the deep end early and by now had battled several top names. This may have had a telling outcome in the contest.
Mathis made a promising start in the fight. He was ahead at midpoint, but the gap narrowed a lot with the sheer pressure from a determined Frazier in the later rounds. The end came suddenly when a single short thudding left hook landed as Mathis advanced. It won the fight by 11th-round knockout for Frazier.
Buster Mathis continued to fight in the following years, outpointing highly regarded ironman 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.
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