# José Roman (boxer)

José "King" Roman (born December 17, 1946) is a Puerto Rican former boxer who was Puerto Rico's first world heavyweight championship challenger. He is known as "Joe King Roman." He holds notable victories over Manuel Ramos and ex-Light Heavyweight champion Vicente Rondon.

## Pro career

In Roman's early career, he achieved mixed results. He defeated people like Jack O'Halloran and Chuck Wepner but lost to Jack Bodell. After the Bodell loss, Roman had a win-streak, defeating O'Halloran once again and besting Manuel Ramos. He lost to Robie Harris but put together a streak of wins before fighting George Foreman.

### Foreman Fight

In late August 1973, he travelled to Tokyo, Japan, to challenge world Heavyweight champion George Foreman, losing by a knockout in the first round on September 1. Roman's corner protested that Foreman hit him while Roman was down, although no action was taken on this complaint. Photos exist that seem to corroborate Roman's corner's version of events. Even though he lost, he made history by becoming the first Puerto Rican to challenge for the world's Heavyweight championship. The only fellow Puerto Ricans to challenge for the heavyweight championship are Ossie Ocasio, Fres Oquendo and John Ruiz, who later became the first Latino to hold a version of the heavyweight championship.

### Afterwards

Roman held a win over former WBA world Light Heavyweight champion Vicente Rondon just after the Foreman fight, his first win afterwards. In 1975 he lost to Mike Quarry and later in the year he began a series of losses. He lost seven times, notably losing to Jimmy Young. Roman was defeated by Boone Kirkman afterwards, in 1977, but never achieved a notable fight afterwards, having a mixed record.

## Retirement

Roman retired in 1981 with a record of 54 wins, 27 losses and 4 draws, with 27 knockout wins. He used to work at a Sweetbay Supermarket in Tampa, Florida. Ossie Ocasio and Fres Oquendo also challenged for the world's heavyweight championship, both are also from Puerto Rico. Ruiz was born in the USA of Puerto Rican ancestry.

## Professional boxing record

| 86 fights | 54 wins | 27 losses |
| By knockout | 27 | 11 |
| By decision | 27 | 16 |
| Draws | 4 | 4 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 87 | Loss | 54–27–4 (1) | Tony Severance | KO | 5 | March 19, 1981 | Tampa, Florida | |
| 86 | Loss | 54–26–4 (1) | Alfio Righetti | KO | 2 | November 10, 1978 | Milan, Lombardy | |
| 85 | Loss | 54–25–4 (1) | Glenn Morgan | TKO | 7 | August 10, 1978 | Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida | |
| 82 | Loss | 54–24–4 (1) | Ibar Arrington | TKO | 8 | June 20, 1978 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington | |
| 81 | Win | 54–23–4 (1) | George Jerome | TKO | 8 | May 23, 1978 | Bellingham, Washington | |
| 80 | Loss | 53–23–4 (1) | Walter E. Moore, Jr. | UD | 10 | April 28, 1978 | International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 79 | Draw | 53–22–4 (1) | Levi Forte | PTS | 10 | March 17, 1978 | War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida | |
| 78 | Loss | 53–22–3 (1) | Bobby Lloyd | UD | 15 | January 19, 1978 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | For Florida Heavyweight Title |
| 77 | Win | 53–21–3 (1) | John L Carter | UD | 10 | December 1, 1977 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
| 76 | Win | 52–21–3 (1) | George Jerome | TKO | 9 | October 1, 1977 | Butte, Montana | |
| 75 | Loss | 51–21–3 (1) | Marlin Lewis | UD | 12 | September 8, 1977 | Tampa, Florida | |
| 74 | Draw | 51–20–3 (1) | Marlin Lewis | PTS | 10 | August 5, 1977 | Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida | |
| 73 | Win | 51–20–2 (1) | Terry Daniels | UD | 10 | May 25, 1977 | Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska | |
| 72 | Loss | 50–20–2 (1) | Bobby Lloyd | PTS | 15 | May 7, 1977 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | For Florida Heavyweight Title |
| 71 | Loss | 50–19–2 (1) | Boone Kirkman | UD | 10 | April 26, 1977 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington | |
| 70 | Win | 50–18–2 (1) | Ernie Smith | TKO | 4 | March 23, 1977 | Anchorage, Alaska | |
| 69 | Win | 49–18–2 (1) | Ibar Arrington | SD | 10 | February 15, 1977 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington | |
| 68 | Win | 48–18–2 (1) | James Anthony | KO | 5 | February 2, 1977 | Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska | |
| 67 | Loss | 47–18–2 (1) | Ibar Arrington | MD | 10 | October 12, 1976 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington | |
| 66 | Loss | 47–17–2 (1) | Fred Houpe | TKO | 10 | June 15, 1976 | Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York | |
| 65 | Loss | 47–16–2 (1) | Randy Stephens | PTS | 10 | June 1, 1976 | Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida | |
| 64 | Loss | 47–15–2 (1) | Jimmy Young | PTS | 10 | Feb 20, 1976 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Hato Rey | |
| 63 | Loss | 47–14–2 (1) | Mike Schutte | TKO | 7 | January 26, 1976 | City Hall, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal | |
| 62 | Loss | 47–13–2 (1) | Mike Schutte | PTS | 10 | November 29, 1975 | Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng | |
| 61 | Loss | 47–12–2 (1) | John "Dino" Denis | UD | 10 | September 30, 1975 | Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island | |
| 60 | Loss | 47–11–2 (1) | Wendell Joseph | UD | 10 | August 29, 1975 | Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 59 | Win | 47–10–2 (1) | Walter White | SD | 11 | March 7, 1975 | Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida | |
| 58 | Loss | 46–10–2 (1) | Mike Quarry | UD | 10 | January 3, 1975 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
| 57 | Win | 46–9–2 (1) | Earl Perrer | KO | 6 | October 10, 1974 | Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 56 | NC | 45–9–2 (1) | Eddie Owens | NC | 9 | August 12, 1974 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 55 | Win | 45–9–2 | Vicente Rondon | TKO | 2 | June 6, 1974 | Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida | |
| 54 | Draw | 44–9–2 | Jose Manuel Urtain | PTS | 8 | March 1, 1974 | Madrid, Community of Madrid | |
| 53 | Loss | 44–9–1 | Pedro Agosto | PTS | 12 | December 17, 1973 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico | For Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title |
| 52 | Loss | 44–8–1 | George Foreman | KO | 1 | Sep 1, 1973 | Nihon Budokan, Tokyo | For WBC and WBA World Heavyweight Titles |
| 51 | Win | 44–7–1 | Clyde Brown | KO | 3 | June 28, 1973 | Portland, Maine | |
| 50 | Win | 43–7–1 | Terry Daniels | UD | 10 | November 21, 1972 | Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada | |
| 49 | Win | 42–7–1 | Tony Ventura | TKO | 2 | October 2, 1972 | Estadio Sixto Escobar, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 48 | Win | 41–7–1 | Charley Polite | KO | 1 | July 14, 1972 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| 47 | Win | 40–7–1 | Jose Manuel Urtain | UD | 10 | April 3, 1972 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 46 | Win | 39–7–1 | Brian O'Melia | PTS | 10 | February 14, 1972 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 45 | Loss | 38–7–1 | Robie Harris | SD | 10 | October 29, 1971 | Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California | |
| 44 | Win | 37–6–1 | Jose Rondon | PTS | 10 | May 1, 1971 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 43 | Win | 36–6–1 | Tommy Sheehan | KO | 5 | February 25, 1971 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 42 | Win | 35–6–1 | Jose Rondon | UD | 10 | February 1, 1971 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
| 41 | Win | 34–6–1 | Manuel Ramos | PTS | 10 | October 26, 1970 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 40 | Win | 33–6–1 | Bill Hardney | KO | 3 | August 24, 1970 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
| 39 | Win | 32–6–1 | Tommy Howard | KO | 7 | July 27, 1970 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
| 38 | Win | 31–6–1 | Jack O'Halloran | PTS | 10 | May 25, 1970 | Tampa, Florida | |
| 37 | Win | 30–6–1 | Moses Harrell | KO | 2 | April 20, 1970 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
| 36 | Win | 29–6–1 | Tommy Grant | TKO | 1 | April 7, 1970 | Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas | |
| 35 | Win | 28–6–1 | Abe Brown | TKO | 2 | March 31, 1970 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | |
| 34 | Win | 27–6–1 | Tommy Howard | PTS | 10 | March 18, 1970 | Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida | |
| 33 | Win | 26–6–1 | Mike Bruce | PTS | 10 | January 20, 1970 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 32 | Win | 25–6–1 | George Holden | TKO | 4 | December 4, 1969 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
| 31 | Win | 24–6–1 | Charles Clark | KO | 3 | November 18, 1969 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | |
| 30 | Win | 23–6–1 | Abe Brown | KO | 2 | November 13, 1969 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
| 29 | Win | 22–6–1 | Bowie Adams | TKO | 3 | October 3, 1969 | Estadio Country Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 28 | Loss | 21–6–1 | Jack Bodell | PTS | 10 | July 14, 1969 | Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | 49.25-49.75. |
| 27 | Win | 21–5–1 | Chuck Wepner | PTS | 10 | June 22, 1969 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 26 | Win | 20–5–1 | Al Banks | PTS | 10 | April 19, 1969 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 25 | Win | 19–5–1 | Jack O'Halloran | PTS | 10 | March 15, 1969 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 24 | Win | 18–5–1 | Al Singletary | KO | 10 | February 13, 1969 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 23 | Loss | 17–5–1 | Pedro Agosto | KO | 12 | November 19, 1968 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 22 | Loss | 17–4–1 | Charlie Harris | KO | 8 | May 20, 1968 | Audubon Ballroom, New York City | |
| 21 | Win | 17–3–1 | Al Singletary | PTS | 10 | April 15, 1968 | Audubon Ballroom, New York City | |
| 20 | Win | 16–3–1 | Charley Polite | UD | 8 | March 23, 1968 | Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| 19 | Loss | 15–3–1 | Al Singletary | KO | 7 | October 2, 1967 | Audubon Ballroom, New York City | |
| 18 | Win | 15–2–1 | James J. Johnson | PTS | 8 | August 21, 1967 | Audubon Ballroom, New York City | |
| 17 | Draw | 14–2–1 | Moses Harrell | PTS | 8 | July 20, 1967 | Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine | |
| 16 | Loss | 14–2 | Herman Harris | TKO | 10 | June 5, 1967 | Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 15 | Loss | 14–1 | Hal Carroll | SD | 8 | April 24, 1967 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | James J. Johnson | UD | 8 | March 27, 1967 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Don Waldheim | SD | 4 | March 22, 1967 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Al Brooks | UD | 6 | March 13, 1967 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Billy Muse | PTS | 6 | March 2, 1967 | Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Tony Burwell | PTS | 8 | January 16, 1967 | Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Joe Webb | KO | 2 | January 9, 1967 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Abe Walden | PTS | 6 | December 19, 1966 | Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Felix Viera | TKO | 2 | December 16, 1966 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Abe Walden | TKO | 5 | October 24, 1966 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Bill Haderman | KO | 5 | October 20, 1966 | Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | George Ford | KO | 2 | October 17, 1966 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Wayne Webb | KO | 2 (6) | September 8, 1966 | Portland, Maine | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | John Hitts | KO | 1 (4) | August 4, 1966 | Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Sam Sellers | PTS | 4 | June 20, 1966 | Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |

## Personal

He has a daughter, Selina, who is an artist. There is a mural in Tampa Bay that depicts him and dr. Ferdie Pacheco, a well-known television boxing pundit.