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

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes87Loss Tony SeveranceKO5March 19, 1981 Tampa, Florida86Loss54–26–4 (1) Alfio RighettiKO2November 10, 1978 Milan, Lombardy85Loss54–25–4 (1) Glenn MorganTKO7August 10, 1978 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida82Loss54–24–4 (1) Ibar ArringtonTKO8June 20, 1978 Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington81Win54–23–4 (1) George JeromeTKO8May 23, 1978 Bellingham, Washington80Loss53–23–4 (1) Walter E. Moore, Jr.UD10April 28, 1978 International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois79Draw53–22–4 (1) Levi FortePTS10March 17, 1978 War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida78Loss53–22–3 (1) Bobby LloydUD15January 19, 1978 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida77Win53–21–3 (1) John L CarterUD10December 1, 1977 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida76Win52–21–3 (1) George JeromeTKO9October 1, 1977 Butte, Montana75Loss51–21–3 (1) Marlin LewisUD12September 8, 1977 Tampa, Florida74Draw51–20–3 (1) Marlin LewisPTS10August 5, 1977 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida73Win51–20–2 (1) Terry DanielsUD10May 25, 1977 Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska72Loss50–20–2 (1) Bobby LloydPTS15May 7, 1977 Fort Lauderdale, Florida71Loss50–19–2 (1) Boone KirkmanUD10April 26, 1977 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington70Win50–18–2 (1) Ernie SmithTKO4March 23, 1977 Anchorage, Alaska69Win49–18–2 (1) Ibar ArringtonSD10February 15, 1977 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington68Win48–18–2 (1) James AnthonyKO5February 2, 1977 Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska67Loss47–18–2 (1) Ibar ArringtonMD10October 12, 1976 Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington66Loss47–17–2 (1) Fred HoupeTKO10June 15, 1976 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York65Loss47–16–2 (1) Randy StephensPTS10June 1, 1976 Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida64Loss47–15–2 (1) Jimmy YoungPTS10Feb 20, 1976 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Hato Rey63Loss47–14–2 (1) Mike SchutteTKO7January 26, 1976 City Hall, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal62Loss47–13–2 (1) Mike SchuttePTS10November 29, 1975 Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng61Loss47–12–2 (1) John "Dino" DenisUD10September 30, 1975 Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island60Loss47–11–2 (1) Wendell JosephUD10August 29, 1975 Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands59Win47–10–2 (1) Walter WhiteSD11March 7, 1975 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida58Loss46–10–2 (1) Mike QuarryUD10January 3, 1975 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida57Win46–9–2 (1)Earl PerrerKO6October 10, 1974 Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands5645–9–2 (1) Eddie OwensNC9August 12, 1974 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico55Win45–9–2 Vicente RondonTKO2June 6, 1974 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida54Draw44–9–2 Jose Manuel UrtainPTS8March 1, 1974 Madrid, Community of Madrid53Loss44–9–1 Pedro AgostoPTS12December 17, 1973 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico52Loss44–8–1 George ForemanKO1Sep 1, 1973 Nihon Budokan, Tokyo51Win44–7–1 Clyde BrownKO3June 28, 1973 Portland, Maine50Win43–7–1 Terry DanielsUD10November 21, 1972 Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada49Win42–7–1 Tony VenturaTKO2October 2, 1972 Estadio Sixto Escobar, San Juan, Puerto Rico48Win41–7–1 Charley PoliteKO1July 14, 1972 Ponce, Puerto Rico47Win40–7–1 Jose Manuel UrtainUD10April 3, 1972 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico46Win39–7–1 Brian O'MeliaPTS10February 14, 1972 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico45Loss38–7–1 Robie HarrisSD10October 29, 1971 Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California44Win37–6–1 Jose RondonPTS10May 1, 1971 San Juan, Puerto Rico43Win36–6–1 Tommy SheehanKO5February 25, 1971 San Juan, Puerto Rico42Win35–6–1 Jose RondonUD10February 1, 1971 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida41Win34–6–1 Manuel RamosPTS10October 26, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico40Win33–6–1 Bill HardneyKO3August 24, 1970 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida39Win32–6–1 Tommy HowardKO7July 27, 1970 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida38Win31–6–1 Jack O'HalloranPTS10May 25, 1970 Tampa, Florida37Win30–6–1 Moses HarrellKO2April 20, 1970 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida36Win29–6–1 Tommy GrantTKO1April 7, 1970 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas35Win28–6–1 Abe BrownTKO2March 31, 1970 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas34Win27–6–1 Tommy HowardPTS10March 18, 1970 Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida33Win26–6–1 Mike BrucePTS10January 20, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico32Win25–6–1 George HoldenTKO4December 4, 1969 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida31Win24–6–1 Charles ClarkKO3November 18, 1969 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas30Win23–6–1 Abe BrownKO2November 13, 1969 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida29Win22–6–1 Bowie AdamsTKO3October 3, 1969 Estadio Country Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico28Loss21–6–1 Jack BodellPTS10July 14, 1969 Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire27Win21–5–1 Chuck WepnerPTS10June 22, 1969 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico26Win20–5–1 Al BanksPTS10April 19, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico25Win19–5–1 Jack O'HalloranPTS10March 15, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico24Win18–5–1 Al SingletaryKO10February 13, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico23Loss17–5–1 Pedro AgostoKO12November 19, 1968 San Juan, Puerto Rico22Loss17–4–1 Charlie HarrisKO8May 20, 1968 Audubon Ballroom, New York City21Win17–3–1 Al SingletaryPTS10April 15, 1968 Audubon Ballroom, New York City20Win16–3–1 Charley PoliteUD8March 23, 1968 Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts19Loss15–3–1 Al SingletaryKO7October 2, 1967 Audubon Ballroom, New York City18Win15–2–1 James J. JohnsonPTS8August 21, 1967 Audubon Ballroom, New York City17Draw14–2–1 Moses HarrellPTS8July 20, 1967 Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine16Loss14–2 Herman HarrisTKO10June 5, 1967 Worcester, Massachusetts15Loss14–1 Hal CarrollSD8April 24, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts14Win14–0 James J. JohnsonUD8March 27, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts13Win13–0 Don WaldheimSD4March 22, 1967 Madison Square Garden, New York City12Win12–0 Al BrooksUD6March 13, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts11Win11–0 Billy MusePTS6March 2, 1967 Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine10Win10–0 Tony BurwellPTS8January 16, 1967 Worcester, Massachusetts9Win9–0 Joe WebbKO2January 9, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts8Win8–0 Abe WaldenPTS6December 19, 1966 Worcester, Massachusetts7Win7–0 Felix VieraTKO2December 16, 1966 Madison Square Garden, New York City6Win6–0 Abe WaldenTKO5October 24, 1966 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts5Win5–0Bill HadermanKO5October 20, 1966 Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine4Win4–0George FordKO2October 17, 1966 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts3Win3–0Wayne WebbKO2 (6)September 8, 1966 Portland, Maine2Win2–0John HittsKO1 (4)August 4, 1966 Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine1Win1–0 Sam SellersPTS4June 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.

See also

List of Puerto Ricans Sports in Puerto Rico Boxing in Puerto Rico

References

External links