Alex Steward tied Mac Foster's 24 KO streak record before losing to Evander Holyfield. Mac's streak was broken by Jerry Quarry. (Vatali later surpassed the 24 KO streak) Alex Steward 24-0 24 KO's 213 lbs, 6'2" vs. Mac Foster 24-0 24 KO's 210 lbs, 6'3" Who wins? why?
haven't seen enough of Foster to draw an accurate conclusion... But I've seen plenty of stewart, and he was pretty raw and crude at 24-0.. His skills improved slightly by about the time he fought Foreman, but the first time I saw him was against Holyfield on showtime championship boxing in 89'. He had no defense, couldn't tie a man up and was bleeding by about the third round.. He had heart, but I wouldn't pick him to beat too many quality contenders. If I go by Foster's record on boxrec, which isn't the best way to assess fights I know, but he at least beat some upper tier journeyman and a few faded verterans... The best fighter Stewart had beaten to get 24-0 was probably Jaco.. Foster also looks pretty lean and fit from clips and photos of him in his prime... Stewart was carrying around a few extra pounds he probably didn't need.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-O2z-mjRkA[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj4mOXU6ESE[/ame] I won't try and draw any conclusions from just watching a glimpse of footage ( while multi tasking at work ), but Foster appears to be more mobile as well as proactive.. I also like the way he's holding his guard up, which makes him appear to be more protected than Steward's porous defense.. Foster seems to be the more skilled fighter, but again I haven't seen enough to make a fair assesment. Incidentally, Alex ate a ton of shots against Holyfield, who frankly I think could have finished him earlier than he actually did.
Looking at Foster's fight with Quarry really makes one appreciate how good Jerry really was... A very fine boxer.
He did well against other sluggers. Crushed Shavers and Foster, neither should be taken lightly. Quarry KO'd them, Ali had to settle for decision wins.
And it started out as a stunning performance for Mac, whose jab was reported to have looked dreadful in training. But from the outset, Mac's jab and hard smacking right surprised everybody just looking for his deadly hook. Those early rounds may have been as well as Mac ever displayed himself. Ali, Frazier and Norton had to be at their very bests to stop him. Heaven help the Mac Fosters, Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyles and George Foremans who had any notion of steamrolling him.
