JO Sports Inc.
HISTORY: On May 20, 1964 in New York in the finals of the Olympic Trials in the heavyweight division Buster Mathis scored a win over future world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier.
Sports Illustrated:
In the finals of the heavyweight division at the Trials, Mathis took on another promising heavyweight named Joe Frazier. Frazier, the butcher from Philadelphia who would go on to be heavyweight champion of the world in the glory days of Ali and Foreman, was no match for Mathis. Here’s how SI described Frazier’s futile attempt to go inside.
Frazier was a solid 195, but Buster still had a 100-pound pulling the weights. And he had his speed. Instead of hunting for the head, Frazier moved in to pound Buster’s belly, which shook and glinted under the lights. Buster managed to keep Frazier at bay with a whistling left hook (each one thrown with a loud grunt, “uuuuunnnnhhh!”), and even when Frazier did manage to get inside, his punches were smothered by flab. As Pappy (Gault) says, “Buster’s got an extra layer of fat on that stomach that stops the punches.”
Mathis, not Frazier was heading to Tokyo. Until he wasn’t. On September 19, just three weeks before the opening ceremony of the Toyo Olympics, it was announced that Mathis had a broken bone in his hand – some say it was a finger, others a thumb. It didn’t matter – Frazier was asked to go in Mathis’ place. Ironically, it is said that Mathis broke the bone in his fight with Frazier, learning the unfortunate lesson that winning isn’t everything. Frazier would go on to Tokyo and score a win in the heavyweight division. However, when he broke his thumb in a semi-final match, Frazier told no one. Clearly favoring his right, Frazier managed to win the finals on points.
Offered here is a rare, original wire photo which depicts Joe Frazier and Buster Mathis in action during the Olympic Trials in 1964.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original Associated Press wire photo with full caption on the front. Stamped on back. Bold, clear image. Clean front and back. Crease in lower left corner. Minor edge wear. Pen notation at caption. 7 1/4" x 9 1/2."
Rare, the first we have offered.
