# 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Professional boxing record

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