Foster was starting to show a slow down post Quarry at Light Heavy, and Conteh was at his absolute pomp in 74. I guess it depends where the fight was; Conteh over here, Foster over there!
At that stage it would have been a closer fight. I’d still favor Bob but not by much. A few years earlier though and Foster wins by KO
What a fantastic fight this would have been. Foster had a mother and father of a struggle against Chris Finnegan in 1972, Ring Magazine Fight of the Year, before knocking Chis out in the 14th. By the end of 1974, Conteh had 2 wins over Chris. As mentioned on this thread, by 1972 Bob was starting to slow down and would look to get a breather when he could. The power was still there, particularly in the left hook but he was starting to take shots because his legs couldn't get him out of range fast enough. If you wanted to design a Boxer then you couldn't go far wrong by basing your project on the 1974 vintage John Conteh. Fast hands, great feet, superb in and out movement and his right hand had not yet been broken. It was a hammer. John was also spiteful when he needed to be. He would butt, use his elbows, go south of the border. He was probably the first British Boxer at top level to do this. We used to say he fought like an American ! In an ebb and flow classic, Conteh's speed and youth gets the nod over Foster's power and experience.
