Buster Mathis
Template:Short description Template:Infobox boxer Buster Mathis (June 11, 1943 – September 6, 1995<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>) was an American boxer who competed from 1965 to 1972.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was a top contender throughout his career, beating other top contenders including George Chuvalo and Chuck Wepner.<ref name="Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He fought Heavyweight greats such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry and Ron Lyle;<ref name="Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats"/><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he also notably beat Joe Frazier as an amateur to qualify for the Olympics but was later replaced due to a hand injury.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CareerEdit
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.<ref name=boxrec/>
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.Template: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.<ref name=boxrec/> Ali was later criticized for not finishing Mathis in the final rounds of the fight.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
After Mathis was knocked out in just two rounds in September 1972 by Ron Lyle, he retired for good.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
RetirementEdit
A 1980 Sports Illustrated article featured interviews with Mathis and many of Muhammad Ali's other opponents.Template:Citation needed It reported Mathis worked in the trucking business after he retired from the ring. Template: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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His son Buster Mathis Jr. became a professional boxer and fought Mike Tyson in 1995.
Professional boxing recordEdit
Template:S-start |- |align="center" colspan=8|30 Wins (21 knockouts, 9 decisions), 4 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions)<ref name=boxrec>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Result | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Round | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes |-align=center |Template:No2Loss |30–4 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Ron Lyle |KO |2 |29 Sep 1972 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |30–3 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Humphrey McBride |TKO |3 |5 Sep 1972 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:No2Loss |29–3 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Muhammad Ali |UD |12 |17 Nov 1971 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Astrodome, Houston, Texas |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:No2Loss |29–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jerry Quarry |UD |12 |24 Mar 1969 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |29–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon George Chuvalo |UD |12 |3 Feb 1969 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |28–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon J.J. Woody |TKO |6 |26 Sep 1968 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |27–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Dick Wipperman |UD |10 |16 Sep 1968 |align=left|Template:Flagicon County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |26–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Amos Lincoln |SD |10 |5 Sep 1968 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |25–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon J.J. Beattie |TKO |7 |25 Jul 1968 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |24–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon M.J. Turnbow |TKO |7 |30 Apr 1968 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:No2Loss |23–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Joe Frazier |TKO |11 |4 Mar 1968 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |23–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Gerry de Bruyn |KO |1 |26 Dec 1967 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Frolundaborg, Gothenburg |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |22–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Roberto Davila |TKO |7 |18 Nov 1967 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Johanneshov, Stockholm |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |21–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Ron Marsh |TKO |4 |18 Sep 1967 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |20–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Wayne Heath |KO |5 |2 Aug 1967 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |19–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Sonny S.D. Moore |TKO |5 |23 May 1967 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Saint Louis, Missouri |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |18–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Ed "Baker Boy" Hurley |KO |1 |12 May 1967 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Detroit, Michigan |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |17–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Waban Thomas |KO |1 |6 Feb 1967 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Astrodome, Houston, Texas |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |16–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon E.S. Andrews |KO |2 |17 Nov 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |15–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Johnny Barazza |KO |1 |2 Nov 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Civic Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |14–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Earl Averette |TKO |3 |28 Sep 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Cambria County War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, Pennsylvania |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |13–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bob Stallings |SD |10 |15 Sep 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Armory, Akron, Ohio |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |12–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Mert Brownfield |KO |1 |29 Aug 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |11–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Charley E. Chase |UD |6 |28 Jul 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |10–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Everett Copeland |KO |2 |23 Jun 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |9–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Tom Swift |KO |1 |16 Jun 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |8–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Charley Polite |PTS |6 |16 Feb 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |7–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Mike Bruce |TKO |5 |19 Jan 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |6–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Chuck Wepner |TKO |3 |7 Jan 1966 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |5–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Charlie Lee |PTS |6 |15 Dec 1965 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |4–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bob Stallings |UD |6 |23 Sep 1965 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Grand Rapids, Michigan |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |3–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bob Maynard |PTS |4 |30 Aug 1965 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |2–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Johnny Shore |TKO |2 |28 Aug 1965 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Rock Island, Quebec |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |1–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bob Maynard |TKO |2 |28 Jun 1965 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec |align=left| Template:S-end