I must confess i do Favour John Conteh in a lot of fights against a lot of good fighters But Bob was a rather special specimen, Those who could cope with his Boxing ability had little chance of doing the double and coping with his punching ability.. Chris Finnegan gave Bob a great Ring Mag Fight of the Year, a real 14 rounds Contest, but Chris's bravery and Boxing ability in thawrting Bob for so long could not mask the fact that he was not in contention on the scorecards, in Bob's two previous fights he had nearly decapitated Rondon and Quarry, so Chris's 14 Rounds was in itself a great feat, after this Bob fought Ali Made like Yo-Yo this left its Mark, on Bob after this Fourie and Ahumada were able to go the distance with Bob, in Jorge's case get palmed off ith a Draw... This is when Conteh was actually scheduled to fight Bob for the Title, and i am convinced this two Handed Stylish .. but vicious Conteh would of Beaten ol Bob... However, at their respective Peaks... I'm afraid John is booked for Defeat, He may give Bob some problems early with his Cobra'esque head movement and sudden surges from Smooth Boxing Mode...to Vicious Attack Mode... And there in lies the Rub... John will not Shut up Shop and stay Mobile Like Ray Anderson, And John being a Precision Instrument Fighter, he will not be used to Taking Frequent Lumps and Gutting out an 'Industrial' and unattrative war of Attrition, as an Andy Kendall or Hal TNT Carroll may of Hoped for, I cant help think that at some stage, after some excellant to and throw Boxing... Conteh lunches one of his Sudden Attacks.. and gets caught with a big shot coming in, Bob's Follow-up is decisive, Conteh is a Rolls Royce.. This Campaign might need a Dirty Crude Tank ? the Alberquerque Sheriff makes an Arrest circa 9th...
It's interesting though, Conteh could probably/possibly out-jab Foster. But yeah he gets hit to much to win.
Nice matchup. What style would Foster employ? To beat Conteh, he would need to use his height and reach advantage. I don't think he could walk through Conteh like he did in some of his defenses. Conteh was too slick to get taken out that way. I think Foster would box his way to a decision win. I don't see a potential ko either way.
I thought a lot of John but his style is all wrong for this bout, weight on the back foot with shorter arms and good blocking but limited slipping doesn't suit him well against a long armed praying mantis like Foster.
Saw Foster fight Andy Kendall in person back in 1969...he was something to see... ...Conteh was good...but we're talking Bob Foster here...
Conteh 'out jab' Foster? I want what you're smoking McGrain. Perhaps out head butt him. Realistically we should have seen John and Victor in the early summer of 75. That would have been a debatable war. (so many judge those two several years later when their skills had waned)
I'll say Foster by close unanimous decision.Conteh probably better than all of the competition he faced as champ.
I'm sure you have probably met the man at fights or after dinner speaking events yourself, but about 15 years ago I was doing a bit of work in Stanmore in the same road that Conteh lived in, and we used to chat with him. Funnily enough he never made claims about beating Foster, rather he was happy to talk about the fights he did have. And of course the wish that he was around at that time for the money that could be made, compared to the money he earned.
I know. Conteh to out jab Foster??!! Not a chance. Conteh was a respectable champion, Foster an all time great. I'd pick Foster.
