RIP Ron Stander

[scorpio83]

If anyone heard the news that former heavyweight challenger "The Butcher" Ron Stander, who unsuccessfully fought Joe Frazier for his World Heavyweight title had died a few days ago at 77 from the complications of diabetes. Stander beat the green Earnie Shavers early in Shavers' career and outside of Frazier, Stander also fought two future world heavyweight champions in Ken Norton (WBC Champion) and Gerrie Coetzee (WBA Champion).

RIP Champ

[bennie]

Tough fighter, brave fighter. RIP.

[scartissue]

It's been an unusual March. Within days of each other, Berkerk Charvantchai, Robert Cohen, writer Mike Marley and Ron Stander all passed away. RIP.

[Riddick Bowie]

Ah, that's a real shame. Unbelievably tough guy.

There's a radio interview with him on YouTube from a few years ago, worth a listen.

[orbtastic]

He was game as hell.

I love his wife's quote after he fought Frazier:

"You don't take a Volkswagen into the Indy 500, unless you know of a hell of a shortcut"

[goose 5]

Stander was as sick as a dog in the locker room before the Scott Frank bout. My friend worked at that time for Lou Duva and was there. Unbelievable that Stander even got into the ring that night.

[Riddick Bowie]

Stander was as sick as a dog in the locker room before the Scott Frank bout. My friend worked at that time for Lou Duva and was there. Unbelievable that Stander even got into the ring that night.

What was the story of that fight? Boxrec says Stander was forced to retire after 1 Rd on advice of doc.

[goose 5]

Injured eye-Stander claimed a thumb or laces did the damage.

[gilgamesh]

He was game as hell.

I love his wife's quote after he fought Frazier:

"You don't take a Volkswagen into the Indy 500, unless you know of a hell of a shortcut"

You gotta give it to him with Frazier, he tried his damndest, but he was just overwhelmingly outgunned there. He did well to stay on his feet.

[nobleart1978]

Sad news that.
Real tough guy.
Came to London and beat Roy Shaw on the unlicensed circuit in the late 70s.
Gene Hackman looked after his affairs I recall

[Nile4000]

Sorry that he died, but it still amazes me that Joe Frazier picked this guy over Mac Foster to defend the world heavyweight belt against.

[Ambling Alp II]

The very first fight that I can remember watching was Stander against Norton, it was on before Ali-Young.

[HomicideHenry]

Sad news that.
Real tough guy.
Came to London and beat Roy Shaw on the unlicensed circuit in the late 70s.
Gene Hackman looked after his affairs I recall

Stander lost to Roy Shaw.

To Shaw's credit, though, even though his autobiography is laced with exaggerations and falsehoods he did not hype up his win over Stander because of the circumstances (ie, broken ribs) going into the contest.

A lot of people don't realize just how "rigged" a lot of those white collar circuit bouts really were, and it was all done to make certain people look more credible than they really were.

The fact that Cliff Fields was the best of the bunch at that time, stopping Lenny McLean twice in the first round, etc--- really puts it to perspective since Fields was half blind and was basically a journeyman at best.

All one really needs to know is that Fields was stopped in 4 or 5 rounds by Richard Dunne, and Dunne was the last man that Ali ever stopped, so it goes to show the extreme disparity between those white collar circuit guys and fringe contenders like Dunne who were carefully selected to be a part of the bum of the month tour.