Ron Stander

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

Loss 38–21–3

PTS 10 July 6, 1982

Loss 38–20–3

TKO 6 October 24, 1981

Loss 38–19–3

UD 4 June 25, 1981

Draw 38–18–3

PTS 10 July 27, 1980

Loss 38–18–2

PTS 10 May 24, 1980

Loss 38–17–2

TKO 7 March 3, 1980

Loss 38–16–2

TKO 1 January 8, 1980

Loss 38–15–2

PTS 10 August 24, 1979

Win 38–14–2

TKO 5 August 16, 1979

Loss 37–14–2

UD 12 June 25, 1979

Loss 37–13–2

UD 10 April 28, 1979

Win 37–12–2

TKO 5 April 3, 1979

Win 36–12–2

KO 1 November 29, 1978

Win 35–12–2

UD 10 October 25, 1978

Win 34–12–2

KO 1 July 26, 1978

Win 33–12–2

KO 3 June 20, 1978

Win 32–12–2

TKO 4 March 23, 1978

Loss 31–12–2

KO 5 November 30, 1977

Win 31–11–2

KO 4 November 15, 1977

Loss 30–11–2

TKO 7 July 19, 1977

Loss 30–10–2

KO 8 July 17, 1976

Win 30–9–2

KO 3 June 1, 1976

Loss 29–9–2

TKO 5 April 30, 1976

Win 29–8–2

KO 3 January 26, 1976

Win 28–8–2

KO 1 January 6, 1976

Loss 27–8–2

UD 10 December 10, 1975

Win 27–7–2

TKO 1 November 20, 1975

Win 26–7–2

TKO 2 September 4, 1975

Win 25–7–2

TKO 2 August 5, 1975

Loss 24–7–2

UD 10 May 7, 1975

Loss 24–6–2

UD 10 July 31, 1974

Draw 24–5–2

PTS 10 March 22, 1974

Loss 24–5–1

PTS 10 February 19, 1974

Loss 24–4–1

TKO 3 November 28, 1973

Win 24–3–1

TKO 3 September 10, 1973

Loss 23–3–1

UD 10 March 29, 1973

Loss 23–2–1

RTD 5 May 25, 1972

Win 23–1–1

UD 10 March 20, 1972

Win 22–1–1

UD 10 February 14, 1972

Loss 21–1–1

SD 10 January 22, 1972

Win 21–0–1

TKO 3 December 20, 1971

Win 20–0–1

KO 3 October 26, 1971

Win 19–0–1

UD 10 August 26, 1971

Win 18–0–1

UD 10 July 29, 1971

Win 17–0–1

KO 6 May 24, 1971

Win 16–0–1

UD 10 April 23, 1971

Win 15–0–1

KO 6 March 30, 1971

Win 14–0–1

KO 1 November 3, 1970

Draw 13–0–1

PTS 10 September 17, 1970

Win 13–0

KO 1 August 28, 1970

Win 12–0

TKO 3 July 17, 1970

Win 11–0

UD 8 June 8, 1970

Win 10–0

KO 5 May 11, 1970

Win 9–0

TKO 1 April 9, 1970

Win 8–0

KO 4 March 23, 1970

Win 7–0

KO 1 March 2, 1970

Win 6–0

UD 6 January 29, 1970

Win 5–0

PTS 6 December 19, 1969

Win 4–0

KO 1 November 17, 1969

Win 3–0

TKO 2 September 29, 1969

Win 2–0

KO 1 August 15, 1969

Win 1–0

KO 1 August 7, 1969