Bob Foster VS Nikolay Effin' Valuev - 2008 - WBA Heavyweight Title - Take That

See John Henry Lewis fight....K.O in one.

 

5%

 

What he said.

 

I think Foster displayed a solid chin at 175. The DePaula "knockdown" seemed to be a combination of a slip/push and a punch to the body.

He won't stand much of a chance against Louis though. He was at 175 what Louis was at 205.

 

He had the punch if any light heavyweight ever did but lacked the rest .. Louis by early, crushing KO ..

 

What would be Bob's chances?

Answer: Zero.

Sorry (for Foster, one of the greatest LHWs).

 

The problem Foster has is that he's not a particularly evasive target. A guy like Conn did respectably (but still got knocked the f*** out) by dodging and moving for 13 rounds, not by standing toe to toe and trying to knock Louis out. Even Schmeling and Marciano had to land on Louis repeatedly round after round to stop him. If an ageing Louis can last that long vs a puncher like Marciano, he has to be pretty durable. And much as Foster had great power at 175, he is no way near the power of Marciano and not as big a hitter as a genuine heavyweight like Schmeling. If Louis can take flush heavyweight knockdowns and recover, a light heavyweight is unlikely to do the same damage, let alone score a KO. Louis was *never* starched with a KO loss, his 2 stoppage defeats were accumulations of punishment. So although he can be hurt, stopping him is tricky.

To stop Louis on accumulation of punches, Foster has to first of all outbox Louis for many rounds, and secondly he has to avoid getting knocked out himself. That requires a level of boxing skill and defensive prowess/mobility that Foster simply didn't have. The only light heavies that have a realistic chance against prime Louis are the slick mobile ones like Tunney or Roy Jones Jr, maybe Charles too, and even then it just takes one punch and then they're in desperate trouble against a finisher like Joe.

I would say Foster's chances are very slim indeed, less than 5%.

 

Louis cut you off with 2 fisted power and in fact was more impressive at finishing an opponent off when hurt than Frazier. Weight is not a factor with a fighter like Louis the tecnique of his punching and power, were greater than all of the heavyweight up to Tyson and Louis brought much more to the table. Louis proved his power over very Large men, very durable men and good movers....Louis was a natural puncher but his learned tecnique is a rare art.

 

Bob's my favorite LHW of all time...but he was never successful at HW. If he was beat my Ali, Frazier, and Terrell, Louis will pulverize him.

 

Since Foster is getting the sh1t end of the stick in this thread, I have to say that I do wonder if he might have done better at heavyweight with more prudent match making.

He was matched against Jones and Terrel while he was developing, and he was matched against Ali and Frazier when he was at his peak.

What if he had been matched against sombody like Jimmy Ellis at his peak?

At worst he might have given us a classic.

 

The Willie Pastrano of the Johnson fight would have decisioned Foster...no other lightheavy king since him would have had any chance against Foster. Willie was fast, sharp, clever and had a great chin, and would have jabbed and moved all night long for a decision.

 

Early night, Ellis takes him out in the first with a quick right hand, he was a very good first round banger,and Foster could not bulk up to carry extra weight,Terrell and Folley stopped him and so would Ellis ,quickly.