Ali vs Bob Foster

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bokaj, May 2, 2009.


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  1. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I finally got to see the whole of this fight (it's on Youtube) and all the talk about Foster giving Ali lot's of trouble and outjabbing just seems hugely overstated to me.

    Ali does receive a cut, but it's hard to see exactly how since Foster lands very few clean punches. He lands a really good right in the final stages, but by then Ali already has the cut. In fact Ali easily dominates Foster and lands more or less at will. He puts Foster down four times in the round he had predicted it would end, but doesn't really manage to finish him then. In rounds 3-4 he just plays with Foster.

    So I can't see any reason other than the cut behind the talk that Foster gave Ali a good fight. Actually it looks more like a mismatch, which is also what Sport Illustrated called it afterwards. The commentator likens it to a father spanking his child.

    I'm glad I finally got to watch it in full, so I can see for myself that it has been blown very much out of proportion by some. Another busted myth concerning Ali.
     
    Bokaj, May 2, 2009
    Bokaj, May 2, 2009
    #1
  2. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Bokaj, May 2, 2009
    Bokaj, May 2, 2009
    #2
  3. DocDevil

    DocDevil Member Full Member

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    I remember watching that fight,Foster landing some shots,and Ali mocking him, wobbling his knees in exagerated fashion.
     
    DocDevil, May 2, 2009
    DocDevil, May 2, 2009
    #3
  4. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    "Jones & Foster" did well against Clay / Ali, but I agree with you, it has been over-played and drawn-out....... Clay / Ali won them fights...... Ali beat the **** outta Foster in the end.......:bbb

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, May 2, 2009
    MRBILL, May 2, 2009
    #4
  5. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Foster didn't come in miles of giving Ali the kind of trouble Jones did.
     
    Bokaj, May 2, 2009
    Bokaj, May 2, 2009
    #5
  6. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali outweighed him by about 40 lbs.
     
    Longhhorn71, May 2, 2009
    Longhhorn71, May 2, 2009
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  7. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes, and I'm by no means saying that this was a great win by Ali.

    But some on this board have used the fight as an example of Ali's frailties, that he could be outjabbed etc., and when you actually watch this fight this seems like utter nonsense. Ali actually outclasses Foster. He hardly threw a punch in round 3, but still probably won the round and made the perhaps most feared LHW puncher at all time look utterly ineffectual.

    He took one or two clean, good punches late in the fight, but that was because he showed Foster no respect at all, and he just shrugged those punches off. Yes, he was cut for the only time in his career, but if it wasn't a butt or an elbow it was very unfortunate, almost freak like, since Foster really hadn't landed anything of consequence when the cut appeared. The notion that Foster consistently landed clean, hard jabs has nothing to do with reality. Ali was the one landing jabs. In other words, this another Ali occurrence who has been given proportions that just isn't justified.
     
    Bokaj, May 2, 2009
    Bokaj, May 2, 2009
    #7
  8. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Foster never brought much to the table against heavyweights.

    I can say this though, if the fight had been at 175 lbs with Ali hypothetically being the same size as Foster, those punches that Foster landed on him would have had a lot more effect.
     
    TheGreatA, May 2, 2009
    TheGreatA, May 2, 2009
    #8
  9. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Foster took the fight with Ali for the cabbage patch he was to get.......... Pretty easy to see there....... Fight for fight, Foster should've sought out Floyd Patterson in 1972.... Both fought Ali in 1972, and both got clocked out............

    "Foster-Patterson" in 1972 would've been interesting to me..... Both were basically the same age and close in size........ It would've been nice to see that bout..... Too bad...

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, May 2, 2009
    MRBILL, May 2, 2009
    #9
  10. prime

    prime BOX! Writing Champion Full Member

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    In the postfight interview, Ali says it was a hook that cut him.

    I see Foster showing quickness coming out of a crouch and landing quite a few jabs of his own. I don't think stories of this bout have been too exaggerated.

    To me the fight shows glimpses of how a good jab, that precious primary weapon, could trouble anyone, including Ali. Foster was too small, but imagine Larry Holmes in there pumping the jab. It would definitely disrupt and score against Ali, who, by the way, seemed to have his right hand better positioned than usual against the jabbing Foster.

    To me this fight showcases something else about Ali: he was wide open for counters in an exchange, both hooks and straight punches. Poor Foster could do little, yet even he had his moments because Ali would stand straight up and simply fire with both hands, instead of coming in behind a tighter guard.

    Sometimes I just have to see him dumped on his rear by Mike Tyson and Joe Louis coming in that way.
     
    prime, May 2, 2009
    prime, May 2, 2009
    #10
  11. HomicideHenry

    HomicideHenry Many Talents, No Successes Full Member

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    to me it was Foster's jabs, the volume of them, is what caused the cut under Ali's eye, and not one single punch.
     
    HomicideHenry, May 2, 2009
    HomicideHenry, May 2, 2009
    #11
  12. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    You're aware that Ali had 40 pounds on Foster, right? And that Foster was perhaps the most incapable fighter of all time at bulking up.

    Not to mention when they were nearly the same size as amateurs Foster beat the living **** out of Ali. Only when Ali far outsized Foster did he beat him.
     
    Russell, May 2, 2009
    Russell, May 2, 2009
    #12
  13. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    If Ali looked sloppy against Foster it was because Ali was not threatened by Foster...... Ali knew he could climb outta bed with a couple of bitches and go to the gym to smack Foster around in the ring.... That's why Ali was a lil' sloppy and careless...... Peace...

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, May 2, 2009
    MRBILL, May 2, 2009
    #13
  14. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Good idea.
     
    Longhhorn71, May 2, 2009
    Longhhorn71, May 2, 2009
    #14
  15. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think Ali & Foster may have sparred or fought as amateurs.....but Foster was much older.
     
    Longhhorn71, May 2, 2009
    Longhhorn71, May 2, 2009
    #15
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