Rare: Buster Mathis stops Chuck Wepner at Madison Square Garden, 1966

On January 7, 1966 heavyweight prospects Buster Mathis and Chuck Wepner met in a six-round bout at Madison Square Garden. (Silent video) Mathis dropped Wepner in the first round and won the match via third-round TKO. It was the first time Wepner was dropped as a pro. He also suffered a serious cut, which contributed to the decision to stop the fight. Wepner was a New York Golden Gloves champion and Mathis won the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1964, (Due to an injury, he would be replaced on the U.S. squad by Joe Frazier). Both would go on to very successful pro careers and challenge for the heavyweight title. Wepner would become Sylvester Stallone's inspiration for the Rocky movie franchise. In the main event that night, hall-of-famer Harold Johnson dropped a 10-round decision to Johnny Persol. Interestingly, in the lead up to this fight, both Wepner and Mathis fought six-rounders against Long Island journeyman Bob Stallings. Wepner lost a split decision, Mathis won a unanimous decision. Thank you to Bruce Kielty for sharing this video. #boxing #boxinghistory #chuckwepner #bayonnebleeder #bustermathis #rocky #sylvesterstallone

[@ronlipton1]

In Champions Forever, Chuck who I like very much and respect said, "No one ever knocked me down except in the Ali fight and that was from exhaustion." I was at the Mathis v Wepner fight and remembered him being dropped in the first round. This is the first time I have seen the fight since I saw it live.

[@jrupp8853]

And yet nobody has the Wepner-Foreman fight?

[@Bruins-vq5ey]

Bad stoppage

[@arthurwilliams8778]

Very lil protest from Chuck .Walked back to his corner ..

[@ssviking81]

This is good footage...No cuts on the "Bayonne Bleeder"

[@highlightoftheday7058]

Wepner does like his rabbit punching. Good fight though.

[@arthurwilliams8778]

ALI might have carried Chuck on home to the finish if he hadn't incessantly rabbit punched...Pissed off wrong dude

[@GavinFox-uk9sn]

Pls don’t take this down there is rare footage of wepner and Mathis so keep it up

[@johngerard3218]

Mathis did better against Wepner than Liston, Ali, and Foreman..

[@AndrewWilliams-kw6bc]

Slimmest Mathis I've seen, looked good

[@michaelares4240]

Really Liston put him in hospital
For 2 days

[@SebaRolaMusic]

It should literally be illegal to call any digital facsimile rare. Idiotic and bad education. Great fight though.