Career
He qualified for a spot in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. However, he was injured and was unable to compete there. Instead of him, the fighter Mathis beat in the Olympic Trials went to the Olympics.
Mathis was an impressive hulking figure who often fought at around 245lbs.
He was surprisingly agile, with good boxing skill and respected power. His combination punches were fast and accurate too.
Mathis turned professional in June 1965 with a second round knockout victory over Bob Maynard. Both boxers were unbeaten as professionals, so tension was high
Ring magazine noted that Mathis had built up useful experience on a range of mostly competent but non ranked opponents, whilst Frazier had been thrown in the deep end early and by now had battled several top names.
This may have had a telling outcome in the contest. Mathis made a promising start in the fight. He was ahead at midpoint, but the gap narrowed a lot with the sheer pressure from a determined Frazier in the later rounds.
The end came suddenly when a single short thudding left hook landed as Mathis advanced.
Mathis retired after losing to Quarry in 1969, but returned in 1971 to box Muhammad Ali for the NABF belt, losing on points over 12 rounds. Ali was later criticized for not finishing Mathis in the final rounds of the fight.
After Mathis was knocked out in just three rounds in August 1972 by fast-rising puncher Ron Lyle, he decided to retire for good from boxing. Mathis suffered from various health problems in later years, such as diabetes and kidney problems.
lieutenant reported Mathis worked in the trucking business after he retired from the ring.
The former pugilist later suffered a heart attack and two strokes. His compulsive eating had ballooned his weight to 550 pounds and, in 1995, he died of a heart attack at age of 52. A Ring magazine tribute noted he was really an easy going guy and perhaps too nice for the boxing game.