Bob Foster won the Lightheavy Title on 5/24/68 He actually fought some "over the weight" fights from that date to Sept. 1968. What if Jimmy Ellis had defended his WBA Title against Bob Foster on 9/14/68? (instead of against Floyd Patterson-188 lbs? ) Ellis was an undersized heavy too-198 lbs but flabby, for Floyd. Does Foster have a realistic chance to win the WBA Heavyweight title?
Not really ,Foster never beat a heavyweight as good as Ellis and Jimmy had speed and a great sneak right hand . He stops Foster who was a top 4 ATG lhvy imo,just physically lacking to beat heavies of class. ps Ellis weighed 195lbs for Quarry, he looked in pretty good trim to me.
I see a Ellis victory....not as overwhelming as Frazier's ko of Foster, but perhaps a 4th or 5th round kd setting up an extended beating of Foster ending in the 6th or 7th round with Foster finally going down again from a fast, sneaky right hand...maybe for the count. Ellis was a better heavyweight than Foster.
I'd like to go with big Bob but can't. Unless he could uncork the left hook that put Mike Quarry to sleep Jimmy would out move and out box him until stopping him somewhere mid-way. Bob just wasn't big or heavy enough to compete evenly with the big boys.
I agree, and the end could come in the opening stanza. Ellis was dangerous in the first round. Foster was not good against heavies, even relatively small ones.
Hi Red! Man I hate this new format, hate all the social media and modern online BS. I'm an accountant and work with only what I have to. I'd rather turn the pages of a book than read it online for pete's sake! OK, nuff said on my rant. IMO Jimmy too tough AND bigger. Despite all of our debate on his Patterson fight Jimmy, in 13 months, won four straight against tough dudes: Martin (cut him), Bonavena (decked him), Quarry (too much savvy for young Jerry causing him to retreat to the ropes often in an attempt to counterpunch) and Floyd (he gave away too many rounds with repeated viewings). Plus Jimmy took 1969 OFF! The Cooper fight fell thru but Jimmy could have fought SOMEONE? And...IMO the first two rounds of his fight with Joe were just about as exciting as the first two rounds of Frazier-Quarry in 6/69. No, at that time Jimmy was as good as he ever was and would have beaten Foster.
I'm with you @jowcol, regarding the format....I'm a "simplicity guy,....but I took advantage of the avatar thing with a tribute to my man Monzon. Yeah, I have this vague memory of Jimmy Ellis destroying Johnny Persol in '67(?) with that big sneaky, fast as hell right hand....come to think of it, as dangerous as Ellis was in the 1st round, he might have blasted out Foster even quicker than I first stated...maybe in the 1st. Anyway, not wanting to hijack this thread, but here's link about Jimmy Ellis that glosses on that Patterson bout... it doesn't make the case for Floyd winning, rather it agrees with you as to why our hero didn't become the first 3 time heavyweight champ. http://www.boxing.com/jimmy_ellis_from_floyd_to_frazier.html
I can't see any reason to believe Foster has more than a punCher's chane. On the other hand I would be suprised if this match up wasn't considered.
Ellis ko is the only real answer here. As for Ellis v Patterson. It was a very close fight in itself but I'm not sure if Floyd took too many rounds off or if he had to pace himself as he aged. Still, the only men who proved to be better than Floyd, imo, where Liston and Ali.
