1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #56'

Saturday ~ January 22, 1972

The Coliseum ~ Denver, Colorado
Attendance ...... { 7826 }

Fight Card
* Ron Stander .................. vs. ..... Rico Brooks
* Ron Lyle ........................ vs. ..... Chuck Leslie
* Rahman 'Rudy Clay' Ali ... vs. ..... Jasper Evans

Ron 'The Council Bluffs Butcher' Stander was ranked as the #8 Heavyweight,
and was using this bout as his 'next-to-last' tune-up, before challenging
World Champion - Joe Frazier.

Rico Brooks from Chicago, was now a Phoenix-based 'club-fighter' who had
won '11-Straight' in 1971. Rico had started his Professional career way back in
October 1955 as a 20 year-old.

Rico had retired in March 1963, but after 7 1/2 years, he decided to return in
January 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Rico was competing in the 'monthly' fight cards at the Riverside Ballroom in
Phoenix, Arizona - and had won all '11' of his bouts there in 1971.

Ron Stander ~ {Omaha, Nebraska}
Age.......... 27 years, 3 months
Height...... 5' 11'
Reach...... 70"
Weight..... 235 lbs.
Record..... 21-0-1 {15 KO's}
Rank....... #8

Rico Brooks ~ {Chicago, Illinois}
Age.......... 36 years, 3 months
Height...... 6' 1"
Reach...... 74"
Weight..... 210 lbs.
Record..... 16-11-5 {5 KO's}
Rank........ {NR}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Skinny"

Ron Stander was 'expected' to have an easy time with Rico Brooks. Most of the
Boxing Pundits predicted, that as soon as Ron hit Rico, the veteran would cave in.

Dick Noland {Manager for Ron Stander} figured that Ron would need only 3-Rounds,
before taking out the 36 year-old Rico Brooks.

So much so, that they had scheduled bout in Omaha, Nebraska set for February 2nd,
only 10-Days away.

"The Bout"

The bout was 'not' a crowd-pleaser. There was little action in Rounds 1 and 2,
as Rico Brooks would not allow Ron Stander to get close and inside to deliver
his hard hooks to the body.

In Round 3, Stander moved in close and started to wing in his heavy left-hook into
Brooks' body. But, Brooks countered and unleashed several wild right-hands into Ron's
head, and opened up a cut over Stander's right-eye at the {2:00 Mark}.

From that point on, Stander was reluctant to get in close, and Brooks was able to
utilize his longer reach and better movement to build up a 'solid' points lead in
this 'little action' bout. Stander did little, other than swing wildly from the outside
and hitting little other than air.

Thru 8-Rounds, it was Rico Brooks' bout to win as he had a 'wide' points lead.

Realizing that he was losing the bout, Stander made a charge in Round 9, as he
landed his best punches of the bout {left hooks to the body}, that had Brooks
in some trouble throughout the latter half of the Round.

Coming out for Round 10, Ron Stander knew he needed a Knockout to win.

In Round 10,

Stander went after Brooks with a 'bull-rush' and unloaded his heavy left-hooks
to the body. But surprisingly, Brooks instead of running, went 'toe-to-toe' trading
good punches with Stander in the best action Round of the bout.

Stander was desperately trying for a Knockout over the tiring Brooks, but the
'veteran' took everything that Stander could offer throughout the Round.

Scorecards
* 47-44 > {6-3-1 in Rounds} > {Rico Brooks}
* 47-46 > {4-3-3 in Rounds} > {Ron Stander}
* 48-44 > {6-2-2 in Rounds} > {Rico Brooks}