Conteh Vs Foster - 1974??

Often thought about this one. Both were good jabbers, so I think it would be a good fight. Bob still had some in the tank, but this was the end of the road 4 him, whereas Conteh was at his peak, or close 2 it. Given Foster's power and Conteh's propensity 4 going down, I think Foster would score a knockdown. Conteh would get up, and a slugfest would ensue. However, due 2 the age imbalance, it would be just a couple rounds. A jabbing contest would follow. Foster would make it close I think, but Conteh would edge him out.

A key fact 2 keep in mind when thinking about this fantasy fight is that both fought Jorge Ahumada that year. Both were hotly contested fights, but Ahumada arguably beat Foster. Ahumada gave Conteh fits, but Conteh still won that fight comfortably.

 

Totally agreed. Actually, now that I think about it, it would probably be a lot like Norton-Holmes. A great, but aging champion fighting a rising contender, passes the torch 2 a new era. Like Norton, it likely would have been his last great performance. And of course, we all know that that Foster's retirement in 1974 led 2 a new era in light heavyweight history.

 

It's always very entertaining when those matchups deliver!

 

Foster just didn't fancy Conteh. He didn't want to lose his Title in the ring and he was frustrated that no American promoter was prepared to match what Harry Levene would pay Bob to travel to London.
Instead, Bob was publicly disparaging of Conteh.
Foster just didn't have the appetite for another war of attrition. He was too old, had too many residual injuries and simply didn't have the hunger anymore.
I think Bob's pride would have drawn a performance out of him but if you want another direct comparison, look no further than the night Barry McGuigan took the Featherweight Title from the great Eusebio Pedroza.

 

Another war of attrition? What injuries? I'm not mocking you because I disagree, I'm just wondering which Foster fights you thought were "wars of attrition" and which ones he received injuries from. The only injury I've ever heard that Foster got was from his fight with Mustafa Wassaja.

I honestly can't see Conteh dominating Foster much. He just wasn't that type of fighter.

 

John would have won a unanimous decision over Bob, punctuated by a 14th round knockdown.

 

In the two years before the suggested fight with Conteh, Foster had his Fight of the Year with Chris Finnegan, a hiding from Muhammad Ali, two gruelling 15 rounders against Pierre Fourie and his desperate squeak of a decision over Jorge Ahumada.
When I mention residual injuries, I mean the ones that virtually all ageing Fighters have. The calcium deposits on the knuckles and elbows, the creaking knees and back.
Against this we have a 23 year old, two handed Conteh who moved as easily as water flowing downhill. John is going to be faster than Foster and when he can't hit him legitimately, he'll crack him low or drop his head in, (We used to say Conteh fought like an American. We meant it respectfully).
Bob's just going to get old overnight, a cliche I know but so often the most apt phrase.
Foster fought on for another three or four years and had plenty to say about Conteh but when approached would invoke the "Money's not right" amendment.
I reckon he just ducked John at the time.

 

Interesting fight, but I just haven`t watched a lot of Conteh fights. So based on clips, his record and what I have read about him, I would favour him.
1974 when Bob Foster fought Jorge Ahumada, Foster was no longer the same amazing boxer, compare to his prime years. He was somehow powerless, a bit lethargic, his punches were weaker, his work rate and footwork had slowed down and he was far more open for punches. So probably Conteh would be to much for him. Though, Foster would still be a strong and dangerous opponent with heavy hands, especially at close range. So Conteh shouldn`t be careless, off-balance and to open for punches.
Prime Foster would be a completely different fight.

 

Conteh decision. Bob was fading Conteh was hitting his prime.

 

If I recall, Bob Foster had fought a 15 round draw against Jorge Ahumada in June 1974 to retain his World Light heavyweight Title. John Conteh was the WBC mandatory challenger. Victor Galindez was the WBA mandatory challenger. Foster stated that it was a mental thing to fight either challenger because he could get stripped by either body for not honoring his commitment. But I do not think that Foster's heart was not in the game anymore. I think that if Bob had fought John Conteh, he would have been on the losing end of a 15 round verdict. Remember that at that time, only the referee did the scoring in London, England. John would have out boxed Bob, avoiding that still lethal left hook. John went on to win the WBC Title with a 15 round decision over Jorge Ahumada in London. Galindez went on to stop Len Hutchins for the WBA Title in December 1974 in Luna Park.

 

It would have been great 2 see a unification match btwn Conteh and Galindez in like 1975 or 1976.