March 4, 1968: Frazier stops Buster Mathis (who was about the size of Lennox Lewis)

Lewis was taller than Buster Mathis, had a better chin and had more skill. So comparing the 2 is pretty silly don't you think?

 

Actually an underrated fighter but nt a guy to gage Lewis by .. Lennox was taller, had a longer reach, was heavier based on muscle opposed to flab and a much bigger puncher .. Just my 2 cents ..

 

Totally different style. Mathis was actually a much more fluid boxer. He was also naturally bigger before Lewis started his steroids.

 

Its a little known fact that Mathis and Frazier were actually supposed to have an amateur rematch after the Olympic trials but before the Olympics. It had no impact on the Olympic team lineup (which Frazier eventually got when Mathis backed out citing an injury) but Mathis ended up not showing up. Frazier was irritated because he wanted revenge. Frazier was pretty hard on Mathis in his books.

 

Good info Mr. K.

 

Joe could be a pretty unforgiving guy as we all know Mr Klompton.

He really disliked Mathis for some reason, every chance Joe had to have a verbal shot at Mathis was taken.

I do know Joe always thought Mathis was a bit of a fraud as far as being a kill or be killed - warrior.

http://ghosttown-boxing.2299399.n4.nabble.com/Smokin-Joe-Frazier-vs-Buster-Mathis-td4602052.html

Cheers Mate

 

What do you consider bigger ? He was shorter by 2", had 5" less in reach and was 15 pounds heavier than a young Lennox , all fat .. that's not bigger thats fatter.

 

Lewis was a lanky fighter before he started using. Mathis, when actually trained such as he was by D'Amato, instead of being left to his own devices and (and cheeseburgers) was simply a naturally more robust guy. Im not talking about height or reach. Ortiz is a naturally "bigger" guy than Wilder despite Wilder having inches in height and reach on him.

 

Yeah, Joe felt he had no heart. He heavily criticized Mathis for backing out of the Olympics with a hand injury citing the fact that he (Joe) won the Olympics with a hand injury severe enough that it postponed his pro debut for a full year.

 

Buster Mathis was a fat ass who lost his career in the drive through at McDonalds`s. It happens. Nothing to debate. The guy was blessed with size, coordination, quickness and footwork. Yet he wasnt even really a contender in his era.

 

Frazier Olympic photo with broken hand:
https://theolympians.co/2015/06/12/joe-frazier-wins-gold-with-broken-hand/

Another "Mathis" article:
"As Pappy (Gault) says, “Buster’s got an extra layer of fat on that stomach that stops the punches.” "
https://theolympians.co/2017/01/08/...st-an-olympian-almost-a-heavyweight-champion/

 

this is surely more fitting an epitaph to the keyboard warriorz on this forum who write things like "buster mathis was a fat ass who lost ..."

 

Jesus.