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Monte Masters, The Only Heavyweight Champion To Lose His Title Due To Divorce

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

There have been many claimants to world boxing titles. The late Monte Masters of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, holds a record of unique distinction. Masters, born in 1955, died in 1996 at age 41. Monte fought professionally between 1979 and 1989. Monte Masters won his first 28 pro bouts, which included only three fighters with winning records. While padded records are not unusual, the conclusion of the career of Monte Masters was most unusual. Even the Guinness Book of World Records could not duplicate the one unique accomplishment of Monte Masters.

Over his last six bouts, Monte Masters went 2-4. His final ring record was 30-4 with 26 knockouts. Quality of opponent or not, still a highly respectable ten year career for a pro heavyweight who boxed between age 23 and age 33 and then retired.

Masters was married to Rosie O’Grady, the daughter of Pat O’Grady, who was the founder and head of the now defunct World Athletic Association. On September 22, 1983, Masters knocked out Tony Fulangi in the fourteenth round in Phoenix, Arizona, to win the vacant World Athletic Association version of the World Heavyweight title, in one of the last official scheduled 15 round world heavyweight title bouts to take place of record.

Masters then divorced his wife. This resulted in WAA President Pat O’Grady stripping him of his WAA World heavyweight title for divorcing his daughter! Masters fought four more times in the next five years, getting knocked out four times. A second round knockout loss to Mike Evans at Photon Arena in Harvey, Illinois in July 1989 ended the career of Masters for good. Not that anybody cared. Masters remains noteworthy today for one statistic, as the only world heavyweight champion to lose his title due to divorcing his wife.

Fact: Monte Masters was married to the sister of Sean O’Grady, who held the World Boxing Association Lightweight title, defeating Hilmer Kenty by 15 round split decision in April 1981, but got stripped of the WBA title for failing to defend against Claude Noel. Pat O’Grady formed the WAA and awarded his son the WAA World Lightweight title. In October 1981, O’Grady lost the WAA title he was awarded when he got knocked out by Andrew Ganigan at the Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1981, Smokin’ Joe Frazier was scheduled to make a comeback against Monte Masters after Scott LeDeux pulled out. Frazier fought Floyd Cummings in December 1981 instead and earned a draw.
The WAA still has a boxing website online http://www.pten.tv/web/waa/thewaaindex.htm

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