Buster Drayton

Buster Drayton ringside at a fight card at the Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City, 2012

Buster Drayton (born March 2, 1954 in Philadelphia, PA) is an American former 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 Returns 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 work 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, 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 9 years younger in 2012 than The Galveston Giant, legendary former World Heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, who last appeared in an 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.

See also

• List of IBF world champions