José "King" Roman

For other people with similar names, see the disambiguation page Jose Roman (disambiguation).

José "King" Roman (born December 17, 1946) is a Puerto Rican former boxer who was Puerto Rico's regional heavyweight champion. He is better known as "Joe King Roman."^[1]

Pro career

In late August 1973, he travelled to Tokyo, Japan to challenge world Heavyweight champion George Foreman, losing by a knockout in the first round there on September 1. Roman's corner protested that he was hit by Foreman while Roman was down, although no action was taken on this complaint. 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 only Latino to hold a version of the heavyweight championship.^[2]

Retirement

Roman retired in 1981 with a record of 53 wins, 24 losses and 3 draws, with 26 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.^[3]

Professional boxing record

53 Wins (27 knockouts, 26 decisions), 27 Losses (11 knockouts, 16 decisions), 4 Draws, 1 No Contest
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	9-2-1	Tony Severance	KO	5	March 19, 1981	Tampa, Florida
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	32-1	Alfio Righetti	KO	2	November 10, 1978	Milan, Lombardy
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	19-5	Glenn Morgan	TKO	7	August 10, 1978	Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	25-4-1	Ibar Arrington	TKO	8	June 20, 1978	Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11-10-3	George Jerome	TKO	8	May 23, 1978	Bellingham, Washington
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	18-1	Walter E. Moore, Jr.	UD	10	April 28, 1978	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois
Draw	19-27-2	Levi Forte	PTS	10	March 17, 1978	War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	12-14-1	Bobby Lloyd	UD	15	January 19, 1978	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida	Florida Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8-3-1	John L Carter	UD	10	December 1, 1977	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11-7-3	George Jerome	TKO	9	October 1, 1977	Butte, Montana
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	4-6-1	Marlin Lewis	UD	12	September 8, 1977	Tampa, Florida
Draw	4-6	Marlin Lewis	PTS	10	August 5, 1977	Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	35-25-1	Terry Daniels	UD	10	May 25, 1977	Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	9-13-1	Bobby Lloyd	PTS	15	May 7, 1977	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	Florida Heavyweight Title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	32-6	Boone Kirkman	UD	10	April 26, 1977	Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington	95-99, 91-99, 92-99.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-12	Ernie "Big E" Smith	TKO	4	March 23, 1977	Anchorage, Alaska
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19-1-1	Ibar Arrington	SD	10	February 15, 1977	Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington	96-98, 99-97, 99-95.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	James Anthony	KO	5	February 2, 1977	Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	16-1-1	Ibar Arrington	MD	10	October 12, 1976	Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington	97-98, 96-97, 97-97.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	11-0	Fred Houpe	TKO	10	June 15, 1976	Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	6-1	Randy Stephens	PTS	10	June 1, 1976	Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	16-4-2	Jimmy Young	PTS	10	February 20, 1976	Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Hato Rey
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	25-5-1	Mike Schutte	TKO	7	January 26, 1976	City Hall, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	23-5-1	Mike Schutte	PTS	10	November 29, 1975	Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	25-0	John Dino Denis	UD	10	September 30, 1975	Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	8-10-2	Wendell Joseph	UD	10	August 29, 1975	Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-6-2	Walter "Snake" White	SD	11	March 7, 1975	Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	45-5-3	Mike Quarry	UD	10	January 3, 1975	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	Earl Perrer	KO	6	October 10, 1974	Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
No Contest	36-23-3	Eddie Owens	NC	9	August 12, 1974	Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	39-14-1	Vicente Rondon	TKO	2	June 6, 1974	Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
Draw	43-5-2	Jose Manuel Urtain	PTS	8	March 1, 1974	Madrid, Community of Madrid
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	26-5	Pedro Agosto	PTS	12	December 17, 1973	Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico	Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	38-0	George Foreman	KO	1	September 1, 1973	Nihon Budokan, Tokyo	WBC/WBA World Heavyweight Titles. Roman knocked out at 2:00 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10-9	Clyde Brown	KO	3	June 28, 1973	Portland, Maine
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28-8-1	Terry Daniels	UD	10	November 21, 1972	Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-9	Tony Ventura	TKO	2	October 2, 1972	Estadio Sixto Escobar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14-21-3	Charley Polite	KO	1	July 14, 1972	Ponce, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	39-3-2	Jose Manuel Urtain	UD	10	April 3, 1972	Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10-8-1	Brian O'Melia	PTS	10	February 14, 1972	Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	3-7-1	"Big" Robie Harris	SD	10	October 29, 1971	Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0-5-1	Jose Rondon	PTS	10	May 1, 1971	San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7-7	Tommy Sheehan	KO	5	February 25, 1971	San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0-4-1	Jose Rondon	UD	10	February 1, 1971	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23-13-3	Manuel "Pulgarcito" Ramos	PTS	10	October 26, 1970	San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-15-1	Bill Hardney	KO	3	August 24, 1970	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-1	Tommy Howard	KO	7	July 27, 1970	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18-7-2	Jack O'Halloran	PTS	10	May 25, 1970	Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13-8-4	Moses Harrell	KO	2	April 20, 1970	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	Tommy Grant	TKO	1	April 7, 1970	Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas	Referee stopped the bout at 2:25 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-12-1	Abe "Tiger" Brown	TKO	2	March 31, 1970	Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-0	Tommy Howard	PTS	10	March 18, 1970	Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9-24-2	Mike Bruce	PTS	10	January 20, 1970	San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9-7-3	George "Moonport Mauler" Holden	TKO	4	December 4, 1969	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1-1	Charles Cyril Clark	KO	3	November 18, 1969	Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-7-1	Abe "Tiger" Brown	KO	2	November 13, 1969	Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23-6-1	Bowie Adams	TKO	3	October 3, 1969	Estadio Country Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	51-9	Jack Bodell	PTS	10	July 14, 1969	Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire	49.25-49.75.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18-3-2	Chuck Wepner	PTS	10	June 22, 1969	Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7-5	Al Banks	PTS	10	April 19, 1969	San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-1-1	Jack O'Halloran	PTS	10	March 15, 1969	San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-9-1	Al Singletary	KO	10	February 13, 1969	San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	17-0	Pedro Agosto	KO	12	November 19, 1968	San Juan, Puerto Rico
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	2-3-1	Charlie "Emperor" Harris	KO	8	May 20, 1968	Audubon Ballroom, New York City
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-7-1	Al Singletary	PTS	10	April 15, 1968	Audubon Ballroom, New York City
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8-5-2	Charley Polite	UD	8	March 23, 1968	Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	1-5-1	Al Singletary	KO	7	October 2, 1967	Audubon Ballroom, New York City
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-5-1	James J. Johnson	PTS	8	August 21, 1967	Audubon Ballroom, New York City
Draw	7-1	Moses Harrell	PTS	8	July 20, 1967	Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	22-23-1	Herman Harris	TKO	10	June 5, 1967	Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	6-2	Hal Carroll	SD	8	April 24, 1967	Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-3-1	James J. Johnson	UD	8	March 27, 1967	Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-1-2	Don Waldheim	SD	4	March 22, 1967	Madison Square Garden, New York City
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-3	Al Brooks	UD	6	March 13, 1967	Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	Billy Muse	PTS	6	March 2, 1967	Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0-4-1	Tony Burwell	PTS	8	January 16, 1967	Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	Joe Webb	KO	2	January 9, 1967	Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1-7-1	Abe Walden	PTS	6	December 19, 1966	Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-7	Felix Viera	TKO	2	December 16, 1966	Madison Square Garden, New York City	Referee stopped the bout at 2:42 of the second round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1-5-1	Abe Walden	TKO	5	October 24, 1966	Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0-1	Bill Haderman	KO	5	October 20, 1966	Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	George Ford	KO	2	October 17, 1966	Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	Wayne Webb	KO	2	September 8, 1966	Portland, Maine
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	John Hitts	KO	1	August 4, 1966	Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0-4-1	Sam Sellers	PTS	4	June 20, 1966	Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• Sports in Puerto Rico

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for José "King" Roman from BoxRec