Ron Stander
Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox boxer
Ron Stander (October 17, 1944 – March 8, 2022) was an American professional boxer, who fought from 1969 to 1982. The highlight of Stander's pro career came on May 25, 1972 when he challenged for the world heavyweight championship in Omaha, Nebraska. Stander lost to champion Joe Frazier by fifth-round technical knockout when the ring doctor stopped the fight after the fourth round. Prior to his unsuccessful match versus Frazier, Stander had scored a fifth-round knockout victory over hard-punching Earnie Shavers in 1970, and a decision win over contender Thad Spencer in 1971. An award-winning documentary titled "The Bluffs Butcher," after his adopted hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, produced by journalism student Andrew Batt, was released in 2004. The documentary tells the story of Iowa's arguably best shot at a World Heavyweight Boxing Title and chronicled Stander's journey from virtual unknown to boxing's largest stage.
Frazier-Stander FightEdit
Stander was largely an unknown commodity when he was given the opportunity to fight for the world heavyweight title in Omaha. The fight prompted Stander's then wife Darlene Stander, to famously compare it to putting a Volkswagen to compete at the Indianapolis 500 race, when she said "You don't take a Volkswagen into the Indy 500, unless you know of a hell of a shortcut".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It marked the first time a world heavyweight title fight had been held in Nebraska. Stander had a solid 23-1-1 record entering the bout and was clearly the fans' favorite based on the huge, enthusiastic ovation he received when he was introduced. Frazier was the undefeated champion and entered the ring as a 10-1 betting favorite. He was booed after being introduced. Both men employed the same aggressive fighting style of pushing forward and fighting at close quarters, which made for an exciting contest. Stander was quite competitive in the first round, even buckling Frazier's knees with one blow late in the round. However, by the second round, Frazier's superiority in class began to show and the champion was getting the better of the frequent exchanges. In the third round Frazier opened a cut on the bridge of Stander's nose and severely staggered him late in the round. Stander was not knocked down, however. By the fourth round Stander was bleeding profusely from the cut and again was badly staggered towards the end of the round as Frazier landed numerous telling blows to Stander's face. Between rounds four and five the fight was stopped by veteran referee Zack Clayton on the advice of the ring doctor. Officially Frazier was credited with a victory by a fifth-round technical knockout.
Personal life and deathEdit
Stander died from complications of diabetes on March 8, 2022, at the age of 77.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Professional boxing recordEdit
Template:S-start |- |align="center" colspan=8|38 Wins (29 knockouts, 9 decisions), 21 Losses (9 knockouts, 12 decisions), 3 Draws<ref>{{#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 |38–21–3 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Otis Bates |PTS |10 |July 6, 1982 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |38–20–3 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Les Myers |TKO |6 |October 24, 1981 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Dodge City, Kansas, U.S. | |- |Template:No2Loss |38–19–3 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jeff May |UD |4 |June 25, 1981 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:DrawDraw |38–18–3 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Otis Bates |PTS |10 |July 27, 1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |38–18–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jeff Shelburg |PTS |10 |May 24, 1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |38–17–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon James Tillis |TKO |7 |March 3, 1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |- |Template:No2Loss |38–16–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Scott Frank |TKO |1 |January 8, 1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Totowa, New Jersey, U.S. | |- |Template:No2Loss |38–15–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Tom Fischer |PTS |10 |August 24, 1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |38–14–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jim Pearish |TKO |5 |August 16, 1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon North Platte, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |37–14–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon James Dixon |UD |12 |June 25, 1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:No2Loss |37–13–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon James Dixon |UD |10 |April 28, 1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |37–12–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Rick Howe |TKO |5 |April 3, 1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Marshalltown, Iowa, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |36–12–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Charles Atlas |KO |1 |November 29, 1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |35–12–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Charley Polite |UD |10 |October 25, 1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |34–12–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bill Jackson |KO |1 |July 26, 1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |33–12–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jesus Montes |KO |3 |June 20, 1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |32–12–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Clyde Mudgett |TKO |4 |March 23, 1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |31–12–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Horace Robinson |KO |5 |November 30, 1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon White Plains, New York, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |31–11–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Raul Hernandez |KO |4 |November 15, 1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |30–11–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Boone Kirkman |TKO |7 |July 19, 1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Seattle, Washington, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |30–10–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Gerrie Coetzee |KO |8 |July 17, 1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Johannesburg, South Africa |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |30–9–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Beau Williford |KO |3 |June 1, 1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |29–9–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Ken Norton |TKO |5 |April 30, 1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Landover, Maryland, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |29–8–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jesus Montes |KO |3 |January 26, 1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |28–8–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Willie Jackson |KO |1 |January 6, 1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |27–8–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Scott LeDoux |UD |10 |December 10, 1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |27–7–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Terry Daniels |TKO |1 |November 20, 1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |26–7–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Morris Jackson |TKO |2 |September 4, 1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |25–7–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bruce Scott |TKO |2 |August 5, 1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |- |Template:No2Loss |24–7–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Fred Askew |UD |10 |May 7, 1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |24–6–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Rodney Bobick |UD |10 |July 31, 1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:DrawDraw |24–5–2 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Morris Jackson |PTS |10 |March 22, 1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |24–5–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Charlie James |PTS |10 |February 19, 1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:No2Loss |24–4–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jeff Merritt |TKO |3 |November 28, 1973 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |24–3–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Walker Smith |TKO |3 |September 10, 1973 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |23–3–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon John Jordan |UD |10 |March 29, 1973 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Portland, Maine, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |23–2–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Joe Frazier |RTD |5 |May 25, 1972 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |23–1–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Johnny Mac |UD |10 |March 20, 1972 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S. |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |22–1–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Mike Boswell |UD |10 |February 14, 1972 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:No2Loss |21–1–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Rico Brooks |SD |10 |January 22, 1972 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |21–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Clyde Brown |TKO |3 |December 20, 1971 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Elgin, Illinois, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |20–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jesse Crown |KO |3 |October 26, 1971 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |19–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Manuel Ramos |UD |10 |August 26, 1971 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |18–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jack O'Halloran |UD |10 |July 29, 1971 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |17–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Lee Carr |KO |6 |May 24, 1971 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |16–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Thad Spencer |UD |10 |April 23, 1971 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |15–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Frank Bullard |KO |6 |March 30, 1971 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |14–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Joe Murphy Goodwin |KO |1 |November 3, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |- |Template:Draw Draw |13–0–1 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Manuel Ramos |PTS |10 |September 17, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |13–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bill Hardney |KO |1 |August 28, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |12–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Ray Ellis |TKO |3 |July 17, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |11–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Eddie Dembry |UD |8 |June 8, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |10–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Earnie Shavers |KO |5 |May 11, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |9–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Woody Parks |TKO |1 |April 9, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |8–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Joe Harris |KO |4 |March 23, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |7–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Lee Powell |KO |1 |March 2, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |6–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Roy Rodriguez |UD |6 |January 29, 1970 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |5–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Joe Byrd |PTS |6 |December 19, 1969 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |4–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Wilbert Elbert |KO |1 |November 17, 1969 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |3–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Lee Estes |TKO |2 |September 29, 1969 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |2–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Red Ferris |KO |1 |August 15, 1969 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. | |- |Template:Yes2Win |1–0 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bobby Street |KO |1 |August 7, 1969 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |}