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Muhammad Ali vs. Buster Mathis

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Muhammad Ali vs. Buster Mathis
DateNovember 17, 1971
VenueAstrodome, Houston, Texas
Title(s) on the lineNABF heavyweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer United States Muhammad Ali United States Buster Mathis
Nickname "The Greatest"
Hometown Louisville, Kentucky Sledge, Mississippi
Purse $300,000
Pre-fight record 32–1 (26 KO) 29–2 (20 KO)
Age 29 years, 10 months 28 years, 5 months
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 227 lb (103 kg) 256 lb (116 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition NABF heavyweight champion
Former undisputed heavyweight champion
Result
Ali won via 12th round UD

Muhammad Ali vs. Buster Mathis was a professional boxing match contested on November 17, 1971, for the NABF championship.

Background

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Ali joked before the fight that "I'm going to do to Buster what the Indians did to Custer". One of the fight posters promoting the match said "Be there when the Mountain comes to Muhammad".[1][2]

The fight

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Ali dominated the fight throughout and won easily on points. Ali knocked Mathis down twice in the eleventh round and twice again in the final round but refused to move in for a knockout out of compassion for Mathis. [3][4][5][6]

Undercard

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Confirmed bouts:[7]

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
 Philippines ABS-CBN
 United Kingdom ITV
 United States ABC

References

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  1. ^ Thomas Hauser (1991). Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times. Simon & Schuster. pp. 241–2. ISBN 9780671688929.
  2. ^ "ALI BIG FAVORITE TO DEFEAT MATHIS". The New York Times. 17 November 1971. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  3. ^ Felix Dennis; Don Atyeo (2003). Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years. miramax books. p. 192.
  4. ^ "GOT TO LOOK GOOD TO ALLAH". Sports Illustrated. 29 November 1971. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Mathis Was Hit by a Buss and Then by Ali". The New York Times. 18 November 1971. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Winner Didn't 'Have Heart to Hurt Him'". The New York Times. 18 November 1971. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  7. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Muhammad Ali's bouts
17 November 1971
Succeeded by
Preceded by Buster Mathis's bouts
17 November 1971
Succeeded by
vs. Humphrey McBride