Buster Drayton

Moses Buster Drayton (March 2, 1952 – November 20, 2022) was an American 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
Drayton at a fight card in 2012
Born	Moses Buster Drayton (1952-03-02)March 2, 1952 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 20, 2022(2022-11-20) (aged 70)
Statistics
Weight(s)	Light middleweight Middleweight
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach	74 in (188 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	57
Wins	40
Wins by KO	28
Losses	15
Draws	1
No contests	1

Military service

Drayton joined the United States Marines during 1972, later rising to the rank of Sergeant. During 2016, he was honored for his service by the National Federation of Black Veterans.^[1]

Return 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 worked 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 nine 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.

Personal life and death

Drayton died on November 20, 2022, at the age of 70.^[2]

Professional boxing record

57 fights	40 wins	15 losses
By knockout	28	3
By decision	12	12
Draws	1
No contests	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
57	Loss	40–15–1 (1)	Derrick Rolon	UD	12	10 Jun 1995	Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.	For IBF USBA North Atlantic Middleweight Title
56	Win	40–14–1 (1)	Jose Vera	PTS	6	3 Nov 1994	Salem, New Hampshire, U.S.
55	Win	39–14–1 (1)	Robert Harris	TKO	4	14 Aug 1993	Old Orchard Beach, Maine, U.S.
54	Win	38–14–1 (1)	Gary Smith	TKO	3	18 Nov 1992	Sanford, North Carolina, U.S.
53	Win	37–14–1 (1)	Eric Mustafa Cole	TKO	8	26 Jun 1992	Lombardo's, Randolph, Massachusetts, U.S.
52	Win	36–14–1 (1)	Jose Vera	PTS	8	22 May 1992	Oaks Banquet Hall, Agawam, Massachusetts, U.S.
51	Loss	35–14–1 (1)	Eric Holland	UD	10	28 Aug 1991	Original Sports Bar, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
50	Win	35–13–1 (1)	Gary Jones	UD	8	11 May 1991	Regina Agridome, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
49	Loss	34–13–1 (1)	Brinatty Maquilon	TKO	8	5 Oct 1989	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
48	Win	34–12–1 (1)	Darryl Fromm	UD	10	28 Sep 1989	Finky's Country Showplace, Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
47	Loss	33–12–1 (1)	Terry Norris	UD	12	28 Mar 1989	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	For NABF light-middleweight title
46	Loss	33–11–1 (1)	Julian Jackson	TKO	3	30 Jul 1988	Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	For WBA light-middleweight title
45	Win	33–10–1 (1)	Leroy Jones	TKO	4	5 Dec 1987	The Col Ballroom, Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
44	Loss	32–10–1 (1)	Matthew Hilton	UD	15	27 Jun 1987	Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada	Lost IBF light-middleweight title
43	Win	32–9–1 (1)	Said Skouma	TKO	10	27 Mar 1987	Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes, France	Retained IBF light-middleweight title
42	Win	31–9–1 (1)	Juan Alonso Villa	KO	2	28 Feb 1987	Vincennes, France
41	Win	30–9–1 (1)	Davey Moore	TKO	10	24 Aug 1986	La Pinede, Juan-les-Pins, France	Retained IBF light-middleweight title
40	Win	29–9–1 (1)	Benito Fernandez	TKO	6	20 Jun 1986	Paris, France
39	Win	28–9–1 (1)	Carlos Santos	MD	15	4 Jun 1986	Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.	Won IBF light-middleweight title
38	Win	27–9–1 (1)	Sam Leonard	TKO	5	4 Apr 1986	Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
37	Win	26–9–1 (1)	Bruce Jackson	TKO	5	22 Jan 1986	Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
36	Win	25–9–1 (1)	John Jarvis	TKO	6	14 Sep 1985	Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
35	Win	24–9–1 (1)	Dennis Johnson	TKO	10	10 Jun 1985	Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
34	Loss	23–9–1 (1)	James Kinchen	PTS	10	14 Apr 1985	York Hall, Bethnal Green, England, U.K.
33	Win	23–8–1 (1)	Thomas Smith	UD	10	14 Feb 1985	Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
32	Win	22–8–1 (1)	Tony Harrison	TKO	10	28 Nov 1984	Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
31	Win	21–8–1 (1)	Terry Holmes	TKO	1	26 Sep 1984	Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
30	Win	20–8–1 (1)	Gary Coates	TKO	4	25 Jun 1984	Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
29	Win	19–8–1 (1)	Mark Kaylor	TKO	7	13 May 1984	Empire Pool, Wembley, England, U.K.
28	Win	18–8–1 (1)	Jimmy Cable	KO	1	11 Apr 1984	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, England, U.K.
27	Win	17–8–1 (1)	Gregory Clark	TKO	2	28 Jan 1984	Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
26	Loss	16–8–1 (1)	Fred Hutchings	PTS	10	2 Oct 1983	Alex G. Spanos Center, Stockton, California, U.S.
52	Loss	16–7–1 (1)	Mario Maldonado	SD	10	1 Sep 1983	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24	Win	16–6–1 (1)	Patricio Diaz	PTS	10	9 Jun 1983	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
23	Win	15–6–1 (1)	Clinton Jackson	TKO	2	12 May 1983	Viking Hall, Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
22	Win	14–6–1 (1)	David Plowden	UD	8	12 Apr 1983	Sheraton Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
21	Loss	13–6–1 (1)	Bushy Bester	PTS	10	5 Feb 1983	Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
20	Loss	13–5–1 (1)	Sumbu Kalambay	PTS	8	30 Oct 1982	Teatro Ariston, Sanremo, Italy
19	Win	13–4–1 (1)	Bruce Johnson	TKO	9	31 Jul 1982	Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
18	Win	12–4–1 (1)	Duane Thomas	TKO	7	29 Apr 1982	Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
17	Loss	11–4–1 (1)	Lindell Holmes	PTS	10	7 Mar 1982	Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16	Win	11–3–1 (1)	Dan Snyder	PTS	8	17 Jan 1982	Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15	Win	10–3–1 (1)	DC Walker	KO	2	23 Dec 1981	Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
14	Win	9–3–1 (1)	Tyrone Demby	PTS	6	25 Jul 1981	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13	Loss	8–3–1 (1)	Mario Maldonado	PTS	8	14 Jun 1981	Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
12	Loss	8–2–1 (1)	Mark Holmes	UD	6	7 Feb 1981	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
11	Win	8–1–1 (1)	Dan Snyder	TKO	4	24 Jan 1981	Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
10	Loss	7–1–1 (1)	Kevin Perry	TKO	3	6 Nov 1980	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9	NC	7–0–1 (1)	Curtis Taylor	NC	8	1 Oct 1980	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8	Win	7–0–1	Bill Harrington	TKO	2	9 Aug 1980	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
7	Win	6–0–1	Clifford Smith	TKO	1	18 Oct 1979	Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
6	Win	5–0–1	Julius Spell	PTS	4	20 Sep 1979	Alan B. Shepard Civic Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
5	Win	4–0–1	Jesse Carter	KO	6	30 Aug 1979	Alan B. Shepard Civic Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
4	Win	3–0–1	Bob Saxton	TKO	1	3 Jul 1979	Steel Pier Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3	Win	2–0–1	Frank Moore	KO	3	31 May 1979	Dome, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
2	Win	1–0–1	Jesse Carter	PTS	6	14 Dec 1978	Dome, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
1	Draw	0–0–1	Charles Carey	PTS	4	9 Nov 1978	Dome, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.

See also

• List of world light-middleweight boxing champions