José Roman (boxer)


José "King" Roman is a Puerto Rican former boxer who was Puerto Rico's national heavyweight champion. He is known as "Joe King Roman."

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 first Latino to hold a version of the heavyweight championship.
Roman also held a win over former WBA world Light Heavyweight champion Vicente Rondon.

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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
87Loss54–27–4 Tony SeveranceKO5March 19, 1981 Tampa, Florida
86Loss54–26–4 Alfio RighettiKO2November 10, 1978 Milan, Lombardy
85Loss54–25–4 Glenn MorganTKO7August 10, 1978 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
82Loss54–24–4 Ibar ArringtonTKO8June 20, 1978 Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington
81Win54–23–4 George JeromeTKO8May 23, 1978 Bellingham, Washington
80Loss53–23–4 Walter E. Moore, Jr.UD10April 28, 1978 International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois
79Draw53–22–4 Levi FortePTS10March 17, 1978 War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
78Loss53–22–3 Bobby LloydUD15January 19, 1978 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida Florida Heavyweight Title
77Win53–21–3 John L CarterUD10December 1, 1977 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
76Win52–21–3 George JeromeTKO9October 1, 1977 Butte, Montana
75Loss51–21–3 Marlin LewisUD12September 8, 1977 Tampa, Florida
74Draw51–20–3 Marlin LewisPTS10August 5, 1977 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
73Win51–20–2 Terry DanielsUD10May 25, 1977 Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska
72Loss50–20–2 Bobby LloydPTS15May 7, 1977 Fort Lauderdale, FloridaWon Florida Heavyweight Title
71Loss50–19–2 Boone KirkmanUD10April 26, 1977 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington
70Win50–18–2 Ernie SmithTKO4March 23, 1977 Anchorage, Alaska
69Win49–18–2 Ibar ArringtonSD10February 15, 1977 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington
68Win48–18–2 James AnthonyKO5February 2, 1977 Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska
67Loss47–18–2 Ibar ArringtonMD10October 12, 1976 Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington
66Loss47–17–2 Fred HoupeTKO10June 15, 1976 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
65Loss47–16–2 Randy StephensPTS10June 1, 1976 Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
64Loss47–15–2 Jimmy YoungPTS10February 20, 1976 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Hato Rey
63Loss47–14–2 Mike SchutteTKO7January 26, 1976 City Hall, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal
62Loss47–13–2 Mike SchuttePTS10November 29, 1975 Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng
61Loss47–12–2 John Dino DenisUD10September 30, 1975 Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island
60Loss47–11–2 Wendell JosephUD10August 29, 1975 Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
59Win47–10–2 Walter WhiteSD11March 7, 1975 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
58Loss46–10–2 Mike QuarryUD10January 3, 1975 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
57Win46–9–2 Earl PerrerKO6October 10, 1974 Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
5645–9–2 Eddie OwensNC9August 12, 1974 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
55Win45–9–2 Vicente RondonTKO2June 6, 1974 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
54Draw44–9–2 Jose Manuel UrtainPTS8March 1, 1974 Madrid, Community of Madrid
53Loss44–9–1 Pedro AgostoPTS12December 17, 1973 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico For Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
52Loss44–8–1 George ForemanKO1September 1, 1973 Nihon Budokan, Tokyo For WBC and WBA World Heavyweight Titles
51Win44–7–1 Clyde BrownKO3June 28, 1973 Portland, Maine
50Win43–7–1 Terry DanielsUD10November 21, 1972 Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada
49Win42–7–1 Tony VenturaTKO2October 2, 1972 Estadio Sixto Escobar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
48Win41–7–1 Charley PoliteKO1July 14, 1972 Ponce, Puerto Rico
47Win40–7–1 Jose Manuel UrtainUD10April 3, 1972 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
46Win39–7–1 Brian O'MeliaPTS10February 14, 1972 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
45Loss38–7–1 Robie HarrisSD10October 29, 1971 Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
44Win37–6–1 Jose RondonPTS10May 1, 1971 San Juan, Puerto Rico
43Win36–6–1 Tommy SheehanKO5February 25, 1971 San Juan, Puerto Rico
42Win35–6–1 Jose RondonUD10February 1, 1971 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
41Win34–6–1 Manuel RamosPTS10October 26, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
40Win33–6–1 Bill HardneyKO3August 24, 1970 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
39Win32–6–1 Tommy HowardKO7July 27, 1970 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
38Win31–6–1 Jack O'HalloranPTS10May 25, 1970 Tampa, Florida
37Win30–6–1 Moses HarrellKO2April 20, 1970 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
36Win29–6–1 Tommy GrantTKO1April 7, 1970 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas
35Win28–6–1 Abe BrownTKO2March 31, 1970 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas
34Win27–6–1 Tommy HowardPTS10March 18, 1970 Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
33Win26–6–1 Mike BrucePTS10January 20, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
32Win25–6–1 George HoldenTKO4December 4, 1969 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
31Win24–6–1 Charles ClarkKO3November 18, 1969 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas
30Win23–6–1 Abe BrownKO2November 13, 1969 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
29Win22–6–1 Bowie AdamsTKO3October 3, 1969 Estadio Country Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico
28Loss21–6–1 Jack BodellPTS10July 14, 1969 Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire49.25-49.75.
27Win21–5–1 Chuck WepnerPTS10June 22, 1969 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
26Win20–5–1 Al BanksPTS10April 19, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
25Win19–5–1 Jack O'HalloranPTS10March 15, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
24Win18–5–1 Al SingletaryKO10February 13, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
23Loss17–5–1 Pedro AgostoKO12November 19, 1968 San Juan, Puerto Rico
22Loss17–4–1 Charlie HarrisKO8May 20, 1968 Audubon Ballroom, New York City
21Win17–3–1 Al SingletaryPTS10April 15, 1968 Audubon Ballroom, New York City
20Win16–3–1 Charley PoliteUD8March 23, 1968 Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
19Loss15–3–1 Al SingletaryKO7October 2, 1967 Audubon Ballroom, New York City
18Win15–2–1 James J. JohnsonPTS8August 21, 1967 Audubon Ballroom, New York City
17Draw14–2–1 Moses HarrellPTS8July 20, 1967 Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
16Loss14–2 Herman HarrisTKO10June 5, 1967 Worcester, Massachusetts
15Loss14–1 Hal CarrollSD8April 24, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
14Win14–0 James J. JohnsonUD8March 27, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
13Win13–0 Don WaldheimSD4March 22, 1967 Madison Square Garden, New York City
12Win12–0 Al BrooksUD6March 13, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
11Win11–0 Billy MusePTS6March 2, 1967 Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
10Win10–0 Tony BurwellPTS8January 16, 1967 Worcester, Massachusetts
9Win9–0 Joe WebbKO2January 9, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
8Win8–0 Abe WaldenPTS6December 19, 1966 Worcester, Massachusetts
7Win7–0 Felix VieraTKO2December 16, 1966 Madison Square Garden, New York City
6Win6–0 Abe WaldenTKO5October 24, 1966 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
5Win5–0Bill HadermanKO5October 20, 1966 Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
4Win4–0George FordKO2October 17, 1966 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
3Win3–0Wayne WebbKO2 September 8, 1966 Portland, Maine
2Win2–0John HittsKO1 August 4, 1966 Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
1Win1–0 Sam SellersPTS4June 20, 1966 Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania