Ron Stander (October 17, 1944 – March 8, 2022) was an American professional boxer, who fought from 1969 to 1982. The highlight of Stander's pro career came on May 25, 1972 when he challenged for the world heavyweight championship in Omaha, Nebraska. Stander lost to champion Joe Frazier by fifth-round technical knockout when the ring doctor stopped the fight after the fourth round. Prior to his unsuccessful match versus Frazier, Stander had scored a fifth-round knockout victory over hard-punching Earnie Shavers in 1970, and a decision win over contender Thad Spencer in 1971. An award-winning documentary titled "The Bluffs Butcher," after his adopted hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, produced by journalism student Andrew Batt, was released in 2004. The documentary tells the story of Iowa's arguably best shot at a World Heavyweight Boxing Title and chronicled Stander's journey from virtual unknown to boxing's largest stage.

Frazier-Stander Fight

Stander was largely an unknown commodity when he was given the opportunity to fight for the world heavyweight title in Omaha. The fight prompted Stander's then wife Darlene Stander, to famously compare it to putting a Volkswagen to compete at the Indianapolis 500 race, when she said "You don't take a Volkswagen into the Indy 500, unless you know of a hell of a shortcut". It marked the first time a world heavyweight title fight had been held in Nebraska. Stander had a solid 23-1-1 record entering the bout and was clearly the fans' favorite based on the huge, enthusiastic ovation he received when he was introduced. Frazier was the undefeated champion and entered the ring as a 10-1 betting favorite. He was booed after being introduced. Both men employed the same aggressive fighting style of pushing forward and fighting at close quarters, which made for an exciting contest. Stander was quite competitive in the first round, even buckling Frazier's knees with one blow late in the round. However, by the second round, Frazier's superiority in class began to show and the champion was getting the better of the frequent exchanges. In the third round Frazier opened a cut on the bridge of Stander's nose and severely staggered him late in the round. Stander was not knocked down, however. By the fourth round Stander was bleeding profusely from the cut and again was badly staggered towards the end of the round as Frazier landed numerous telling blows to Stander's face. Between rounds four and five the fight was stopped by veteran referee Zack Clayton on the advice of the ring doctor. Officially Frazier was credited with a victory by a fifth-round technical knockout.

Personal life and death

Stander died from complications of diabetes on March 8, 2022, at the age of 77.

Professional boxing record

38 Wins (29 knockouts, 9 decisions), 21 Losses (9 knockouts, 12 decisions), 3 Draws
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Loss38–21–3United States Otis BatesPTS10July 6, 1982United States Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Loss38–20–3United States Les MyersTKO6October 24, 1981United States Dodge City, Kansas, U.S.
Loss38–19–3United States Jeff MayUD4June 25, 1981United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Draw38–18–3United States Otis BatesPTS10July 27, 1980United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Loss38–18–2United States Jeff ShelburgPTS10May 24, 1980United States Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Loss38–17–2United States James TillisTKO7March 3, 1980United States Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Loss38–16–2United States Scott FrankTKO1January 8, 1980United States Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
Loss38–15–2United States Tom FischerPTS10August 24, 1979United States Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Win38–14–2United States Jim PearishTKO5August 16, 1979United States North Platte, Nebraska, U.S.
Loss37–14–2United States James DixonUD12June 25, 1979United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.Midlands Heavyweight Title.
Loss37–13–2United States James DixonUD10April 28, 1979United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win37–12–2United States Rick HoweTKO5April 3, 1979United States Marshalltown, Iowa, U.S.
Win36–12–2United States Charles AtlasKO1November 29, 1978United States Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
Win35–12–2United States Charley PoliteUD10October 25, 1978United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win34–12–2United States Bill JacksonKO1July 26, 1978United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win33–12–2United States Jesus MontesKO3June 20, 1978United States Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Win32–12–2United States Clyde MudgettTKO4March 23, 1978United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Loss31–12–2United States Horace RobinsonKO5November 30, 1977United States White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win31–11–2United States Raul HernandezKO4November 15, 1977United States Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Loss30–11–2United States Boone KirkmanTKO7July 19, 1977United States Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Loss30–10–2South Africa Gerrie CoetzeeKO8July 17, 1976South Africa Johannesburg, South Africa
Win30–9–2United States Beau WillifordKO3June 1, 1976United States Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Loss29–9–2United States Ken NortonTKO5April 30, 1976United States Landover, Maryland, U.S.
Win29–8–2United States Jesus MontesKO3January 26, 1976United States Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Win28–8–2United States Willie JacksonKO1January 6, 1976United States Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Loss27–8–2United States Scott LeDouxUD10December 10, 1975United States Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
Win27–7–2United States Terry DanielsTKO1November 20, 1975United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win26–7–2United States Morris JacksonTKO2September 4, 1975United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.Iowa/Nebraska Heavyweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 0:58 of the second round.
Win25–7–2United States Bruce ScottTKO2August 5, 1975United States Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Loss24–7–2United States Fred AskewUD10May 7, 1975United States Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Loss24–6–2United States Rodney BobickUD10July 31, 1974United States Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
Draw24–5–2United States Morris JacksonPTS10March 22, 1974United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Loss24–5–1United States Charlie JamesPTS10February 19, 1974United States Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Hawaii Heavyweight Title.
Loss24–4–1United States Jeff MerrittTKO3November 28, 1973United States Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Win24–3–1United States Walker SmithTKO3September 10, 1973United States Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Loss23–3–1United States John JordanUD10March 29, 1973United States Portland, Maine, U.S.
Loss23–2–1United States Joe FrazierRTD5May 25, 1972United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.WBC/WBA Heavyweight Titles.
Win23–1–1United States Johnny MacUD10March 20, 1972United States Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
Win22–1–1United States Mike BoswellUD10February 14, 1972United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Loss21–1–1United States Rico BrooksSD10January 22, 1972United States Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Win21–0–1United States Clyde BrownTKO3December 20, 1971United States Elgin, Illinois, U.S.
Win20–0–1United States Jesse CrownKO3October 26, 1971United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win19–0–1Mexico Manuel RamosUD10August 26, 1971United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win18–0–1United States Jack O'HalloranUD10July 29, 1971United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win17–0–1United States Lee CarrKO6May 24, 1971United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win16–0–1United States Thad SpencerUD10April 23, 1971United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win15–0–1Canada Frank BullardKO6March 30, 1971United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win14–0–1United States Joe Murphy GoodwinKO1November 3, 1970United States Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Draw13–0–1Mexico Manuel RamosPTS10September 17, 1970United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win13–0United States Bill HardneyKO1August 28, 1970United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win12–0United States Ray EllisTKO3July 17, 1970United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win11–0United States Eddie DembryUD8June 8, 1970United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win10–0United States Earnie ShaversKO5May 11, 1970United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win9–0United States Woody ParksTKO1April 9, 1970United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win8–0United States Joe HarrisKO4March 23, 1970United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Win7–0United States Lee PowellKO1March 2, 1970United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win6–0United States Roy RodriguezUD6January 29, 1970United States Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
Win5–0United States Joe ByrdPTS6December 19, 1969United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win4–0United States Wilbert ElbertKO1November 17, 1969United States Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Win3–0United States Lee EstesTKO2September 29, 1969United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Win2–0United States Red FerrisKO1August 15, 1969United States Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.
Win1–0United States Bobby StreetKO1August 7, 1969United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.

External links

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