If you rate Bob Foster higher than Jones at LHW, why?

Rating one lightheavyweight over the other always seems to generate much controvery on ESB, especially when the comparison involves Roy Jones.

 

I don't think heavyweight fights should influence how a fighter is ranked in the light heavyweight division.

Foster was 34 years old when he fought Mike Quarry, Chris Finnegan and Muhammad Ali. Jones was 34 when he first fought Tarver, 35 in his two KO losses.

 

Does anyone seriously think Foster would not have poleaxed John Ruiz, or that Ali and Frazier would not have brutalized a 193lbs Roy Jones?

 

I think Ruiz would have beaten Foster.

Jones would make a significantly better showing against Frazier and he would probably have his moments against Ali.

I doubt he'd beat him, but his speed and elusive style would give Ali more problems than some are willing to admit. In all likelyhood it probably goes to the cards against Ali.

 

I think either Ali or Frazier would have killed Jones. I think it's a tossup as to how Foster would have done vs Ruiz, The simple fact is that Foster did lousy against heavyweights and Jones at least was able to beat Ruiz...no way he would have had any luck against a Klitschko or Lewis, etc., but head to head at lightheavy, Foster kos Jones as soon as he found Roy's chin...knocks him cold. Period.

 

I think Foster is underrated as a HW personally, his losses at the weight either weren't prime or were against 2 of the greatest ever. Moore also took pastings against Marciano and Patterson who werent really as good as Ali/Frazier.

I rate Jones above Foster and most at LHW completely dominant in his prime

 

Jones is an under-rated puncher. He could be devastating as his wins over Hill and Griffin showed. But he didn't have the predator mentality. Jones decisioned many fighters after having them down two and three times. Anyone think they'd have made the distance with Foster?


This fight on paper seems to play out like Leonard-Hearns. Foster had the height and reach to box from the outside and force Jones to come to him. He had the power to punish Jones as he tried to get inside. Jones would have to use side-to-side movement and jump-in-and-out with combos. But Jones never showed me that he was a warrior like Leonard.

Foster by UD (over 12) or late stoppage (in a 15 rounder)..

 

I think Foster would've pulverised Jones. Not to mention he did a lot more work at LHW, and against better fighters. Not much to it.

 

I can see your point on Jones v Ali, though I still think Ali would be dominant.

However, the mere suggestions that Ruiz would beat Foster or that Jones would do anything against Frazier other than get ****ing slaughtered are, in my opinion, virtual insanity.

 

I would put Foster in my top 10 automatically ,not sure Jones even makes it.

 

This is how I see it.

 

A Jones - Foster fight would have looked like Mike Quarry - Foster.

Jones would have done well jabbing and moving around, with Foster jabbing back, then Bob would unleash a left hook at the appropriate time and out goes the lights for Jones.

 

I think Ruiz beats Foster,Foster was a great LHVY ,but he never beat a decent heavyweight.

 

Well actually, he did lose much earlier than that; this was just his first decisive loss.

As far as beating Ruiz goes, that's probably the one and only aspect in which Roy got one over on Foster. Outside of that, Foster actually cleaned out his division at some point, certified his top ranking in the division, and also was the real lineal and undisputed champion. By contrast, Roy was never the lineal champ, and failed to certify his speculated ranking as the best fighter in the division (either by beating Dariusz or winning his series with Tarver). Foster also took far more risks/challenges throughout his career than Roy - ie: fighting Ali and Frazier; fighting HW contender Doug Jones in his 10th pro fight; going down to Peru to fight Mauro Mina in his 13th fight; risking his title in England vs. Finnegan, and twice in South Africa vs. Fourie, and so on - and he showed much more toughness and resilience in his career than Roy.

I wouldn't say that. At around the same age that Jones was one-shot KO'd by Tarver and Johnson, Foster was unifying the title against Rondon, fighing Ali, and defending his title against legit contenders Quarry, Finnegan, Fourie (twice), and Ahumada. I don't think Roy was taking a bigger risk by fighting Tarver/Johnson than Foster was against that bunch. Remember, Johnson was basically thought of as just a good journeyman going into his fight with Roy, and was generally considered just a set up for him to win another title without having to fight Tarver again. Johnson only became famous because Roy got whupped by him.