BUSTER MATHIS WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED AMATEUR HEAVYWEIGHT, HAVING
WON THE A.A.U. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP AND BEATING AMONG OTHERS
JOE FRAZIER TO SECURE HIS CHANCE TO FIGHT AT THE 1964 OLYMPICS. HOWEVER
FATE INTERVENED - MATHIS BROKE HIS THUMB AND WAS REPLACED BY JOE FRAZIER.
FRAZIER WON THE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION.

THE 6' 3" MATHIS, THOUGH A LARGE MAN, WAS SURPRISINGLY LIGHT ON HIS FEET
AND HAD VERY QUICK HANDSPEED. MATHIS TURNED PRO IN 1965 AND RAN UP A
STRING OF VICTORIES, RUNNING HIS PRO RECORD TO 23-0-0.

IN 1968, MATHIS FACED JOE FRAZIER FOR THE VACANT NYSAC WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE.

FRAZIER WAS TOO STRONG FOR MATHIS, STOPPING MATHIS BY TKO IN THE 11TH ROUND.

MATHIS REBOUNDED FROM THIS LOSS, WINNING SIX FIGHTS IN A ROW. IN 1969, MATHIS
WAS BEATEN BY JERRY QUARRY VIA 12 ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION. IN HIS NEXT FIGHT,
MATHIS FOUGHT MUHAMMAD ALI, LOSING TO ALI BY 12 ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION.

MATHIS FOUGHT ONLY TWO MORE TIMES - A KO WIN OVER UNDEFEATED HUMPHREY MCBRIDE
AND THEN IN HIS FINAL FIGHT, MATHIS WAS KOED IN TWO ROUNDS BY HARDPUNCHING RON
LYLE.

MATHIS HAD A PRO RECORD OF 30-4, 21 KOS.