Buster Mathis
{{Short description|American boxer (1943–1995)}}
{{Infobox boxer
|name = Buster Mathis
|realname = Buster Mathis
|image = Buster Mathis 1967.jpg
| caption = Mathis (right) in Sweden in 1967
|nickname =
|height = {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|reach = {{convert|76|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}
|weight = Heavyweight
|birth_date = {{birth date|1943|6|11|mf=y}}
|birth_place = Sledge, Mississippi, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1995|9|6|1943|6|11|mf=y}}
|death_place = Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
|style = Orthodox
|total = 34
|wins = 30
|KO = 21
|losses = 4
|draws = 0
}}
Buster Mathis (June 11, 1943 – September 6, 1995{{cite news|work=The New York Times|page=B9|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/08/obituaries/buster-mathis-heavyweight-fighter-dies-at-51.html|title=Buster Mathis, Heavyweight Fighter, Dies at 51|author=Frank Litsky|date=September 8, 1995}}) was an American boxer who competed from 1965 to 1972.{{Cite web |title=Buster Mathis {{!}} American boxer |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buster-Mathis |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} He was a top contender throughout his career, beating other top contenders including George Chuvalo and Chuck Wepner.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats |url=https://www.martialbot.com/boxing/b/buster-mathis-jr.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.martialbot.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=MATHIS, BUSTER-GEORGE CHUVALO WIRE PHOTO (1969) |url=https://www.josportsinc.com/products/mathis-buster-george-chuvalo-wire-photo-1969 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=JO Sports Inc. |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=All of Chuck Wepner's Losses |url=https://www.martialbot.com/boxing/c/chuck-wepner/losses.html#:~:text=Chuck%20Wepner%20loses%20to%20Buster,of%204-1-2. |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.martialbot.com}} He fought Heavyweight greats such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry and Ron Lyle;{{Citation |title=Muhammad Ali vs. Buster Mathis |date=2023-05-06 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muhammad_Ali_vs._Buster_Mathis&oldid=1153481156 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-05-21 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Frazier vs Mathis Boxing Stats |url=https://boxstat.co/bout/367321/joe-frazier-vs-buster-mathis |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=boxstat.co |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Buster Mathis Jr.'s Best Fights |url=https://www.martialbot.com/boxing/b/buster-mathis-jr/best-fights.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.martialbot.com}} he also notably beat Joe Frazier as an amateur to qualify for the Olympics but was later replaced due to a hand injury.{{Cite web |last=Moyle |first=Clay |date=2007-07-30 |title=Joe Frazier (1944-2011) |url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/frazier-joe-1944/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Joe Frazier {{!}} Biography & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joe-Frazier |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}
Career
File: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.
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|date= April 2018}}
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. Ali was later criticized for not finishing Mathis in the final rounds of the fight.{{cite magazine| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085581/index.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721221556/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085581/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 21, 2012 | magazine=Sports Illustrated | title=Got To Look Good To Allah | date=1971-11-09 | access-date=2012-02-15 | first1=Tex | last1=Maule}}
After Mathis was knocked out in just two rounds in September 1972 by Ron Lyle, he retired for good.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bokssport.com/the-buster-mathis-story/|title=Buster Mathis Story {{!}} Bokssport {{!}} Train with Buster Mathis in Grand Rapids|website=Bokssport|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204021256/https://www.bokssport.com/the-buster-mathis-story/|archive-date=2019-02-04|url-status=dead}}
Retirement
A 1980 Sports Illustrated article featured interviews with Mathis and many of Muhammad Ali's other opponents.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}} It reported Mathis worked in the trucking business after he retired from the ring. {{Citation needed|date= April 2018}}
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.{{cite news|title=Buster Mathis, Former Ali Opponent, Dies at 51|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 8, 1995}} His son Buster Mathis Jr. became a professional boxer and fought Mike Tyson in 1995.
Professional boxing record
{{s-start}}
|-
|align="center" colspan=8|30 Wins (21 knockouts, 9 decisions), 4 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions){{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=7001&cat=boxer|title=BoxRec|website=boxrec.com}}
|-
| 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
|{{no2}}Loss
|30–4
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Ron Lyle
|KO
|2
|29 Sep 1972
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado
|align=left|{{small|Mathis knocked out at 2:58 of the second round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–3
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Humphrey McBride
|TKO
|3
|5 Sep 1972
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
|align=left|{{small|World Super Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:34 of the third round.}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|29–3
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Muhammad Ali
|UD
|12
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Astrodome, Houston, Texas
|align=left|{{small|WBC NABF Heavyweight Title.}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|29–2
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Jerry Quarry
|UD
|12
|24 Mar 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} George Chuvalo
|UD
|12
|3 Feb 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} J.J. Woody
|TKO
|6
|26 Sep 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the sixth round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Dick Wipperman
|UD
|10
|16 Sep 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Amos Lincoln
|SD
|10
|5 Sep 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} J.J. Beattie
|TKO
|7
|25 Jul 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} M.J. Turnbow
|TKO
|7
|30 Apr 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:44 of the seventh round.}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|23–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Joe Frazier
|TKO
|11
|4 Mar 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|{{small|NYSAC World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:33 of the 11th round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Gerry de Bruyn
|KO
|1
|26 Dec 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|Sweden}} Frolundaborg, Gothenburg
|align=left|{{small|Bruyn knocked out at 0:36 of the first round.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfUQGwjJk6Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/WfUQGwjJk6Q| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=SYND 27 12 67 35 Second Heavyweight Boxing Match Between Buster Mathis and Gerry de Bruyn |last=AP Archive|date=24 July 2015|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Peru}} Roberto Davila
|TKO
|7
|18 Nov 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|Sweden}} Johanneshov, Stockholm
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Ron Marsh
|TKO
|4
|18 Sep 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 1:13 of the fourth round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Wayne Heath
|KO
|5
|2 Aug 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
|align=left|{{small|Heath knocked out at 1:16 of the fifth round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Sonny S.D. Moore
|TKO
|5
|23 May 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Saint Louis, Missouri
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:09 of the fifth round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Ed "Baker Boy" Hurley
|KO
|1
|12 May 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Detroit, Michigan
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Waban Thomas
|KO
|1
|6 Feb 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Astrodome, Houston, Texas
|align=left|{{small|Thomas knocked out at 2:23 of the first round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} E.S. Andrews
|KO
|2
|17 Nov 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
|align=left|{{small|Andrews knocked out at 2:10 of the second round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Johnny Barazza
|KO
|1
|2 Nov 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Civic Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Earl Averette
|TKO
|3
|28 Sep 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Cambria County War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Bob Stallings
|SD
|10
|15 Sep 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Armory, Akron, Ohio
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Mert Brownfield
|KO
|1
|29 Aug 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Charley E. Chase
|UD
|6
|28 Jul 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Everett Copeland
|KO
|2
|23 Jun 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|{{small|Copeland knocked out at 2:27 of the second round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Tom Swift
|KO
|1
|16 Jun 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Charley Polite
|PTS
|6
|16 Feb 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Mike Bruce
|TKO
|5
|19 Jan 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Chuck Wepner
|TKO
|3
|7 Jan 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 1:58 of the third round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Charlie Lee
|PTS
|6
|15 Dec 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Bob Stallings
|UD
|6
|23 Sep 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Grand Rapids, Michigan
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Bob Maynard
|PTS
|4
|30 Aug 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Johnny Shore
|TKO
|2
|28 Aug 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Rock Island, Quebec
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:45 of the second round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Bob Maynard
|TKO
|2
|28 Jun 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
|align=left|
{{s-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Buster Mathis}}
- {{Boxrec|id=7001}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathis, Buster}}
Category:Boxers from Mississippi
Category:Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers