Ron Stander: Obituary| Cause of death| What happened| Salary

Ron Stander 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.

Ron Stander: Obituary| Cause of death| What happened| Salary

Obituary:

Ron Stander, whose fight against unbeaten world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in 1972 was the highlight of his 13-year career, has died. He was 77.

Toddy Stander said her husband died Tuesday from complications of diabetes at their home in Omaha, Nebraska, a suburb of Ralston.

Cause of Death:

Stander was known as the “Bluffs Butcher,” a nod to both his hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and his aggressive, brawling style. He was 38-21-3 in a professional career that spanned the years 1969-82.

Stander first drew national notice with a fifth-round knockout of Earnie Shavers in 1970, and he was 23-1-1 when he got his opportunity against Frazier on May 25, 1972.

What happened:

The Frazier fight was at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, across the Missouri River from Council Bluffs, and Stander went right at the champion from the opening bell.

The two fought on even terms early, but Frazier was able to impose his will and bloodied Stander’s face, and the fight was stopped after four rounds.

Stander also fought, and lost to, heavyweights Scott LeDoux, Ken Norton and Gerrie Coetzee in the 1970s, and remained a popular figure in boxing circles the rest of his life.

Salary:

Despite the fact that Stander was rated in the top 15 of the world’s Heavyweights when he was offered a chance to fight world champion Joe Frazier, his wife Darlene said the now-famous comments, “You don’t drive your Volkswagen into the Indianapolis 500 unless you know what you’re doing.”

On May 25, 1972, a fight took place in the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska, and was shown live on television. 

Born: 17 October 1944, Columbia, South Carolina, United States