1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

[Bill Paxtom]

Bill it looks like Rico play the right cards at the right time especially with those two big sunday punches in round 2 or 3

~ Headlines ~

~ Ron Stander Loses To Who ~

Previously unbeaten and #8 World Ranked Heavyweight - Ron Stander lost
a 10-Round Split-Decision to an unknown club-fighter from Phoenix.

Stander who was 21-0-1 entering the Ring at the Coliseum in Denver Saturday
Night, saw his unbeaten record and #8 World-ranking get swept out the door
by Rico Brooks, a Chicago Heavyweight fighting out Phoenix.

Stander at a tubby 234 lbs. never got his heavy body-attack going, and soon
found himself swinging at air as the lighter Brooks {211 lbs.} jabbed and moved,
while winging occasional right-hands from the outside.

The 36 year-old Brooks, nothing more than a club-fighter, had come into the
bout with '11' straight wins, but all on the small club-circuit venue. But the
veteran was both smart and cagey, as he built a wide points over the first
8-Rounds, including cutting Stander over his right-eye in Round 3.

Stander, with his World-Ranking hanging on the edge, did rally strongly in
both the 9th and 10th Rounds, but he came up short, as he could not put
together enough punches to put Brooks down.

The bout was fought in front of 7826 in attendance.

Ron Stander received a fight purse of $6000, but the loss will now most likely
squash his chance to challenge World Champion - Joe Frazer, in April 1972.

Rico Brooks who improved his record to 17-11-5, received an opponents fight
purse of $1000.