An interesting question I'd like to ask the board on ATG's

Stop claiming he has 15 title defences. It has literally no meaning whatsoever.

He's been consensus best MW on the planet since battering Murray. All the while he's flaunted his fake belt there has been a real champion ruling his division.

 

So does Hopkins not have 21 title defenses then?

 

Hopkins won the true championship in the fight with Tito.

When he beat Mercado he spent 15 or so fights claiming to be the best MW of a fractured division but he certainly wasn't a champion for 21 fights.

 

I'd tend to doubt that as Kovalev had a good amateur background. Not saying it could not happen.

Yes.

Stevenson has a real punchers chance vs Foster. Like I said his chin was suspect. Beterbiev I think is a destroyer! I'm sold on his power, and chin based on amateur and pro fights. He hasn't had a lot of fights, but in two years I might pick him over Kovalev.

Pascal might be Foster's best title opponent outside of a 38-year-old **** Tiger who was probably better a middleweight and was very short for a light heavyweight. So I would not mock Pascal in terms of quality of opposition, as Foster timeline had few better than him at light-heavyweight.

But compared today is it better or worse? I say slightly worse.

 

They would consider Joe Louis the GOAT, as the footage of him would look incredible.

His knockouts would be spectacular, and they would get replayed constantly on ESPN.

He would make so much money in the first half of his career, that by the time he reached the end of the road, he would face great HW contenders lured into boxing to capitalize on the wealth. And he would beat them until he got too old.

 

How was Fosters chin suspect ? Which light heavyweights cracked it? Mauro Mina dropped a 12 fight Foster but lost the decision .
Great is great.
Louis, Greb, Foster, were great and I am very grudging about using that adjective.
GGG looks terrific but needs a signature fight.
Kovalev has not fought the second best light heavy yet,if he does he may walk into a left hook and become the second best himself.
Wlad was beaten by an average heavyweight imo and he is responsible for more sh*t performances than any champion since Johnny Nelson.

 

Which punches at light heavyweight did Foster fight that landed something serious on him. If Mina could drop you, lots of guys at light heavy could. Mina was not a puncher.

Doug Jones was 182 pounds when he TKO'd Foster. This is less than most light heavies weight on fight night.

Terell was above 200 ( just barely ), but not known for Power. He put Foster down for a ten count. Folley KO'd him too, and he was not a puncher. While Terell and Folley were above 200 pounds, there were plenty of light heavies in history who hit harder in my opinion.

Foster had string bean legs and a tall and lean build. Those type usually do not take a good punch. In foster's case he had a lot of height, range and power, combined with skill, so his durability wasn't tested as often at light heavy.

Agreed. And Greatness isn't always defined by your competition level. See Joe Louis and Bob Foster.

People are ducking him like he's Sonny Liston, except GGG has the a belt.

As soon as Kovalev fights Stevenson. Stevenson's career is over.

More like his opponents once they are hit flush fear him. When you 6'6 245 and have both pounds for pound power and skills, the ring can be an easy and boring place.

See Mayweather or Roy Jones in their prime.

Which " average " heavyweight beat Wlad? The man was undefeated for 10+ years and lost at age 39. No shame there. Wlad should win the re-match st age 40.

Foreman once said boxing is like Jazz, the better it is the fewer people appreciate it.

 

I have no problem claiming hopkins has 21 defenses because from the word go he was trying to unify. Thats a matter of record. Don King was keeping him from the title and theres no doubt in my mind he would have beaten the other guys had he gotten them. He dominated holmes and joppy easily when he was already faded and finally got ahold of them so its not a stretch to suggest he beats them closer to his prime. Hell, the only reason he got into the unification was because don king wanted his belt and figured that as old as he was hed be a soft touch for tito.

 

1 ) Some counterpoints, Chins are what they are starting out, and really do not improve. They decline over the years after tough fights. Jones at 182 pounds was NOT a puncher. He stopped him. Not a ringing endorsement for Foster to take punishment.

2 ) Let's not pretend these men were not familiar with each other in the ring

I dug up this jewel which says Foster was boxing for years as an amateur before going pro.

3 ) Doug Jones was 0-3 and 1 draw in his last four fights leading up to the match with Foster. Hardly on a roll, and possibly lacking some confidence. Foster was on a roll and had just defeated a name heavyweight journeyman in Whitehurst

Yes, Stevenson will likely lose, and the if they fight I predict some will make excuses that he was washed up, which is not the case.

Yes, he has a chance. You said it best, he ( Stevenson ) will probably lose. I agree with that and would make Kovalev a 4-1 favorite.

Can you list Bob Fosters best five wins at light heavyweight?

His resume is not as good as you might think, and keep in mind Kovalev's career is far from over.

 

I agree that Foster's resume is rather weak but then again alot of experts and fans don't rank Foster in the top 5 all time light heavyweights. He is usally at #6 or #7 or sometimes even below that.

The main reason why Foster is highly regarded though is because he looks outstanding on film. His punishing jab, strong right and deadly left hook made him a damn near unbeatable opponent.

For myself and i suspect a lot of fans, the top 5 atg lhws are:

Langford
Charles
Moore
Spinks
Conn/Tunney

Foster comes after this group. I do think Kovalev will be a top 10 lhw once he unifies but like Foster, he will struggle to get into my top 5 unless his competition level significantly improves.

As far as Fosters best wins at 175 i suppose:

Tiger
Mike Quarry
Chris Finnegan
Rondon
Ray Anderson

Yeah not exactly a murderous row of great fighters. Then again alot of people don't rank Foster in the top 5. Same with RJJ. Kovalev will make my top 10 because he is great to watch, has the power and ability to trouble any lhw i have seen, but it will be an uphill battle to get into top 5.