Oscar Bonavena ~ "Avoided By Many"

[Bill Paxtom]

Oscar 'Ringo' Bonavena

Though Oscar had '68-Bouts' in his 12-year career >

He was still avoided by many, and very few were willing to fight him a 2nd-Time
after getting in the Ring with him.

Those who avoided 'Ringo' >

* Jerry Quarry
> Turned down an offer to fight Oscar in January 1969.
> Declined an offer to fight Oscar in mid-1971.
> Turned down a bout for early-1972, and set for Argentina and billed as the 'Americas Heavyweight Championship'.
> Signed for an October 1974 bout, but then pulled out.

* Joe Frazier
> Won a 'controversial' Majority 10-Round Decision over Oscar on September 21, 1966 - where Joe was floored 'twice'.
> Declined an immediate rematch offer with Oscar.
> Turned down another rematch bout with Oscar set for March 1967.
> Defeated Oscar by a 'grueling' 15-Round Decision on December 10, 1968.
> Turned down an offer for a 3rd-Bout with Oscar Bonavena, and set for the Summer of 1972.
> Declined an offer to fight Oscar in the Fall of 1974.

* George Foreman
> Turned down a bout with Oscar in mid-1972.
> Declined an offer to defend his World Championship against Oscar in late-1973.

* Cassius Clay
> Signed to defend his World Championship against Oscar, and set for March 1967. But Cassius changed his mind.
> Agreed to defend against Oscar in Tokyo, Japan and set for June 1967. But the bout never came off.
> Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali and became a Black Muslim Minister for the Nation of Islam.

* Muhammad Ali
> Muhammad Ali comes from behind to stop {TKO 15} Oscar on December 7, 1970.
> Turns down a rematch-bout set for Buenos Aires in mid-1972.
> Declines an offer to defend his World Championship against Oscar in Buenos Aires, and set for early-1975.

* Ken Norton
> Was scheduled to fight Oscar on March 24, 1975 ~ but Oscar got injured 4-Weeks before the bout.
> Was supposed to fight Oscar in mid-1975, but Kenny 'opted' out this time.

* Earnie Shavers
> Never returned the 'call' to fight Oscar in mid-1974.
> Said 'No' to a bout with Oscar in late-1975

* Floyd Patterson
> Wanted nothing to do with Oscar in late-1966, where he declined a bout.
> Turned down a bout to fight Oscar in early-1969.
> Also turned down a bout with Oscar in early-1971.
> Won a 'controversial' 10-Round Decision over Oscar on February 11, 1972
> Would not give Oscar a rematch for early-1972.

* Sonny Liston
> Claimed an injury, after signing to fight Oscar in early-1969.

* Jimmy Ellis
> Did defeat Oscar by a {W Dec 12} on December 2, 1967 in a WBA Eliminator.
> But would not give Oscar a rematch in a WBA Championship bout set for late-1968.
> Would not accept an offer to fight Oscar in late-1972.

* George Chuvalo
> Lost a {Majority 10-Round Decision} to Oscar on June 23, 1966.
> Turned down an offer for a rematch in late-1966.
> Was offered a bout with Oscar in late-1969, but declined.
> Also, declined an offer to fight Oscar in mid-1972.

* Buster Mathis
> Agreed to fight Oscar in late-1968. Then pulled out claiming an injury.