Buster Drayton



Buster Drayton (born March 2, 1954 in Philadelphia, PA) is an American former boxer who won the IBF world title at light middleweight (154lb). Drayton turned pro in 1978 and won the vacant IBF light middleweight title with a decision win over Carlos Santos in 1986. He defended the belt twice before losing it to Matthew Hilton the following year. In 1988 he took on WBA light middleweight titleholder Julian Jackson, but was defeated via TKO in the third round. He retired in 1995 at the age of 43.

Buster Drayton Returns to the Ring
Drayton returned to the ring in an exhibition in 2012. Drayton, aged 57, returned on January 28, 2012, in an exhibition in Philadelphia against former Philadelphia police officer Floyd 'Sugar Boy' Richards on the undercard of Dhafir Smith versus Quinton Rankin. Drayton and Richards both work as Police Officers for the Department of Veterans Affairs at the Phila VA Medical Center.Buster Drayton won the IBF title by 15 round decision at the Meadowlands over Carlos Santos in 1986. He lost it to 26-0 Matthew Hilton at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1987. The South Philadelphia's fighter's final professional record was 40-15-1, with 28 kayos. In terms of longevity in the ring, Drayton was 9 years younger in 2012 than The Galveston Giant, legendary former World Heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, who last appeared in a charity exhibition for U.S. War Bonds at age 66 in 1945. Also, former Junior Welterweight champion Saoul Mamby fought a professional bout at age 60 in 2008, but lost his comeback attempt by ten round decision.

Professional boxing record

 * align="center" colspan=8|40 Wins (28 knockouts, 12 decisions), 15 Losses (3 knockouts, 12 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest
 * align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Result
 * align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record
 * align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent
 * align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
 * align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Round
 * align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
 * align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
 * align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
 * -align=center
 * Loss
 * 21-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Derrick "Poppy" Rolon
 * UD
 * 12
 * 10 Jun 1995
 * align=left| Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
 * align=left|IBF USBA North Atlantic Middleweight Title.
 * Win
 * 7-33
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jose "Kid Cuba" Vera
 * PTS
 * 6
 * 3 Nov 1994
 * align=left| Salem, New Hampshire, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 0-4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Robert "Bob" Harris
 * TKO
 * 4
 * 14 Aug 1993
 * align=left| Old Orchard Beach, Maine, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 8-18-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 "Scary" Gary Smith
 * TKO
 * 3
 * 18 Nov 1992
 * align=left| Sanford, North Carolina, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 4-11-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Eric Mustafa Cole
 * TKO
 * 8
 * 26 Jun 1992
 * align=left| Randolph, Massachusetts, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 7-20
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jose "Kid Cuba" Vera
 * PTS
 * 8
 * 22 May 1992
 * align=left| Agawam, Massachusetts, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 6-12-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Eric Holland
 * UD
 * 10
 * 28 Aug 1991
 * align=left| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 2-17-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Gary "Indiana" Jones
 * UD
 * 8
 * 11 May 1991
 * align=left|🇨🇦 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 8-4
 * align=left|🇨🇴 Brinatty Maquilon
 * TKO
 * 8
 * 5 Oct 1989
 * align=left| The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 15-4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Darryl Fromm
 * UD
 * 10
 * 28 Sep 1989
 * align=left| Finky's Bar, Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
 * align=left|98-89, 98-89, 99-88.
 * Loss
 * 19-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Terry Norris
 * UD
 * 12
 * 28 Mar 1989
 * align=left| Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
 * align=left|NABF Light Middleweight Title. 111-117, 108-119, 107-120.
 * Loss
 * 34-1
 * align=left| Julian Jackson
 * TKO
 * 3
 * 30 Jul 1988
 * align=left| Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|WBA World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:57 of the third round.
 * Win
 * 0-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 "Bad Bad" Leroy Jones
 * TKO
 * 4
 * 5 Dec 1987
 * align=left| The Col Ballroom, Davenport, Iowa, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 26-0
 * align=left|🇨🇦 Matthew Hilton
 * UD
 * 15
 * 27 Jun 1987
 * align=left|🇨🇦 Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
 * align=left|IBF World Light Middleweight Title. 139-146, 140-144, 138-147.
 * Win
 * 22-4
 * align=left|🇫🇷 Said Skouma
 * TKO
 * 10
 * 27 Mar 1987
 * align=left|🇫🇷 Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France
 * align=left|IBF World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the tenth round.
 * Win
 * 18-5
 * align=left|🇲🇽 Juan Alonso Villa
 * KO
 * 2
 * 28 Feb 1987
 * align=left|🇫🇷 Vincennes, France
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 15-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Davey "Bronx" Moore
 * TKO
 * 10
 * 24 Aug 1986
 * align=left|🇫🇷 La Pinede, Juan-les-Pins, France
 * align=left|IBF World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:15 of the tenth round.
 * Win
 * 15-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Benito Fernandez
 * TKO
 * 6
 * 20 Jun 1986
 * align=left|🇫🇷 Paris, France
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 33-1
 * align=left|🇵🇷 Carlos Santos
 * MD
 * 15
 * 4 Jun 1986
 * align=left| Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|IBF World Light Middleweight Title. 145-141, 145-140, 143-143.
 * Win
 * 6-11
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Sam Leonard
 * TKO
 * 5
 * 4 Apr 1986
 * align=left| Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 12-11-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Bruce "Stonewall" Jackson
 * TKO
 * 5
 * 22 Jan 1986
 * align=left| Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|Referee stopped the bout at 2:07 of the fifth round.
 * Win
 * 21-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 "Big" John Jarvis
 * TKO
 * 6
 * 14 Sep 1985
 * align=left| Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|Referee stopped the bout at 2:53 of the sixth round.
 * Win
 * 12-8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Dennis "The Menace" Johnson
 * TKO
 * 10
 * 10 Jun 1985
 * align=left| Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 34-1-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 James "The Heat" Kinchen
 * PTS
 * 10
 * 14 Apr 1985
 * align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom
 * align=left|97-98.
 * Win
 * 16-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Thomas "Mad Dog" Smith
 * UD
 * 10
 * 14 Feb 1985
 * align=left| Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|9-1, 9-1, 8-1.
 * Win
 * 14-3-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Tony "The Tiger" Harrison
 * TKO
 * 10
 * 28 Nov 1984
 * align=left| Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 11-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Terry "Better" Holmes
 * TKO
 * 1
 * 26 Sep 1984
 * align=left| Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 13-17
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Gary Coates
 * TKO
 * 4
 * 25 Jun 1984
 * align=left| Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|Referee stopped the bout at 2:31 of the fourth round.
 * Win
 * 26-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Mark Kaylor
 * TKO
 * 7
 * 13 May 1984
 * align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Empire Pool, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 25-2
 * align=left|🇬🇧 Jimmy Cable
 * KO
 * 1
 * 11 Apr 1984
 * align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 25-3
 * align=left|🇿🇦 Gregory "Meadowlark" Clark
 * TKO
 * 2
 * 28 Jan 1984
 * align=left|🇿🇦 Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 23-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Fred "Pumper" Hutchings
 * PTS
 * 10
 * 2 Oct 1983
 * align=left| Stockton, California, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 22-11-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Mario Maldonado
 * SD
 * 10
 * 1 Sep 1983
 * align=left| Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 23-12-6
 * align=left|🇦🇷 Patricio Diaz
 * PTS
 * 10
 * 9 Jun 1983
 * align=left| Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 23-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Clint "Sheriff" Jackson
 * TKO
 * 2
 * 12 May 1983
 * align=left| Bristol, Tennessee, United States
 * align=left|Referee stopped the bout at 1:20 of the second round.
 * Win
 * 1-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 David "Plow Boy" Plowden
 * UD
 * 8
 * 12 Apr 1983
 * align=left| Sheraton Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 23-4
 * align=left|🇿🇦 Bushy Bester
 * PTS
 * 10
 * 5 Feb 1983
 * align=left|🇿🇦 Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 18-1-1
 * align=left|🇮🇹 Sumbu Kalambay
 * PTS
 * 8
 * 30 Oct 1982
 * align=left|🇮🇹 Teatro Ariston, Sanremo, Italy
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 9-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Bruce "Stonewall" Johnson
 * TKO
 * 9
 * 31 Jul 1982
 * align=left| Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 16-0
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Duane Thomas
 * TKO
 * 7
 * 29 Apr 1982
 * align=left| Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 14-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Lindell Holmes
 * PTS
 * 10
 * 7 Mar 1982
 * align=left| Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 12-16
 * align=left|🇺🇸 "Dancin" Dan Snyder
 * PTS
 * 8
 * 17 Jan 1982
 * align=left| Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * align=left|C.W. Walker
 * KO
 * 2
 * 23 Dec 1981
 * align=left| Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 13-3-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Tyrone Demby
 * PTS
 * 6
 * 25 Jul 1981
 * align=left| Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 12-8-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Mario Maldonado
 * PTS
 * 8
 * 14 Jun 1981
 * align=left| Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 5-0
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Mark "Better" Holmes
 * UD
 * 6
 * 7 Feb 1981
 * align=left| Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 12-13
 * align=left|🇺🇸 "Dancin" Dan Snyder
 * TKO
 * 4
 * 24 Jan 1981
 * align=left| Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
 * align=left|
 * Loss
 * 5-0
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Kevin Perry
 * TKO
 * 3
 * 6 Nov 1980
 * align=left| Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|Referee stopped the bout at 2:54 of the third round.
 * No Contest
 * 12-6
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Curtis "49er" Taylor
 * NC
 * 8
 * 1 Oct 1980
 * align=left| Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 2-1-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Bill "The Host" Harrington
 * TKO
 * 2
 * 9 Aug 1980
 * align=left| Superstar Theatre, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 0-4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Clifford "Method Man" Smith
 * TKO
 * 1
 * 18 Oct 1979
 * align=left| Philadelphia Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 1-3-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Julius Spell
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 20 Sep 1979
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 8-5-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jesse Carter
 * KO
 * 6
 * 30 Aug 1979
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 1-0
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Bob Saxton
 * TKO
 * 1
 * 3 Jul 1979
 * align=left| Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 5-4-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Frank "Tiger" Moore
 * KO
 * 3
 * 31 May 1979
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 7-4-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jesse Carter
 * PTS
 * 6
 * 14 Dec 1978
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * Draw
 * 3-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Charles "Harry" Carey
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 9 Nov 1978
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * }
 * 1
 * 18 Oct 1979
 * align=left| Philadelphia Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 1-3-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Julius Spell
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 20 Sep 1979
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 8-5-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jesse Carter
 * KO
 * 6
 * 30 Aug 1979
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 1-0
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Bob Saxton
 * TKO
 * 1
 * 3 Jul 1979
 * align=left| Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 5-4-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Frank "Tiger" Moore
 * KO
 * 3
 * 31 May 1979
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * Win
 * 7-4-1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jesse Carter
 * PTS
 * 6
 * 14 Dec 1978
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * Draw
 * 3-2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Charles "Harry" Carey
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 9 Nov 1978
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * }
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 9 Nov 1978
 * align=left| Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
 * align=left|
 * }