Ron Stander
Encyclopedia
Ron Stander is a boxing
referee and former professional boxer from Council Bluffs, Iowa
, who was once a challenger for the heavyweight championship of the world.
Stander built up a 23-1-1 record, including a knockout win over future world title challenger, the hard-punching Earnie Shavers
, and decisions over fringe contenders Jack O'Halloran
, Manuel Ramos
, and Thad Spencer
. Stander was ranked in the top 15 among the world's Heavyweights when he was given a shot at world champion Joe Frazier
, prompting his wife Darlene to say the now famous words, "You don't take a Volkswagen
into the Indianapolis 500
unless you know a short-cut."
The fight took place at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska
on 25 May 1972. Stander was not knocked out by Frazier, but he lost by a technical knockout after the fourth round, due to heavy cuts, requiring 32 stitches after the fight. This was Frazier's last successful title defense; he would lose to George Foreman
in his next bout.
Stander continued boxing until 1982; among his most notable opponents were future world title holders Ken Norton
and Gerrie Coetzee
, losing to both by TKO. He retired with a record of 37 wins, 21 losses and 3 draws, 28 of those wins coming by knockout
.
Stander's success earned him a unique title: The Council Bluffs Butcher.
In 2004, an award-winning documentary entitled "The Bluffs Butcher" and produced by journalism student Andrew Batt, was released. The documentary told 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.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
referee and former professional boxer from Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, who was once a challenger for the heavyweight championship of the world.
Stander built up a 23-1-1 record, including a knockout win over future world title challenger, the hard-punching Earnie Shavers
Earnie Shavers
Earnie Dee Shaver , better known as Earnie Shavers, is an American former professional boxer and is widely considered along with George Foreman as the hardest punchers of all time...
, and decisions over fringe contenders Jack O'Halloran
Jack O'Halloran
Jack O'Halloran is an American ex-boxer and actor.-Boxing:O'Halloran was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fighting as "Irish" Jack O'Halloran out of Boston, Massachusetts, he was a heavyweight boxing contender active from 1966 to 1974...
, Manuel Ramos
Manuel Ramos
Manuel Ramos, an attorney who also has taught Chicano literature courses at Metropolitan State College of Denver, is the author of several crime fiction novels...
, and Thad Spencer
Thad Spencer
Thad Spencer is a retired American heavyweight boxer.A native of Portland, Oregon, Spencer made his professional boxing debut in May 1960...
. Stander was ranked in the top 15 among the world's Heavyweights when he was given a shot at world champion Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
, prompting his wife Darlene to say the now famous words, "You don't take a Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
into the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
unless you know a short-cut."
The fight took place at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
on 25 May 1972. Stander was not knocked out by Frazier, but he lost by a technical knockout after the fourth round, due to heavy cuts, requiring 32 stitches after the fight. This was Frazier's last successful title defense; he would lose to George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
in his next bout.
Stander continued boxing until 1982; among his most notable opponents were future world title holders Ken Norton
Ken Norton
Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. is a former heavyweight boxer. He is best known for his 12-round victory over a peak Muhammad Ali where he famously broke Ali's jaw, on March 31, 1973, becoming only the second man to defeat Ali as a professional .He and Ali...
and Gerrie Coetzee
Gerrie Coetzee
Gerhardus Christian Coetzee , better known as Gerrie Coetzee, is a South African former boxer. He made history twice: he was the first boxer from the African continent ever to fight for the World Heavyweight Title, and the first to win the World Heavyweight Title...
, losing to both by TKO. He retired with a record of 37 wins, 21 losses and 3 draws, 28 of those wins coming by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
.
Stander's success earned him a unique title: The Council Bluffs Butcher.
In 2004, an award-winning documentary entitled "The Bluffs Butcher" and produced by journalism student Andrew Batt, was released. The documentary told 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.