Boxer Buster Mathis Sr. succumbs at age 51
Jet, Sept 25, 1995
Heavyweight boxer Buster Mathis Sr. recently died of heart failure in Grand Rapids, MI. He was 51.
Mathis, who lost a 1968 title bout to Joe Frazier on an 11th-round knockout and a 1971 comeback fight to Muhammad Ali, was found unconscious by his wife Joan at their home. Family members and emergency workers tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at Butterworth Hospital.
He is the father of Buster Mathis Jr., whom he was helping train for his bout with Mike Tyson. The younger Mathis said he would go through with the Tyson fight on Nov. 4 in Las Vegas.
The elder Mathis had a history of health problems after his weight more than doubled from 260 to 550 pounds after retiring in 1972.
Besides his wife and son, he is survived by his daughter, Antonia.
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