Big Mac Foster Vs even bigger Buster Mathis, Two heavyweight contenders who both contributed plenty of interesting ink to the very colourful late 60's early 70's Heavyweight landscape, and it is perhaps a wonder that their scripts didnt encompass each other at some point, Both despatched Sonny Moore as might be expected, also both lost to Jerry Quarry, with Buster going the full route, both lost to a roadshow Ali over the full route,with Ali patently allowing Buster that privilege, Buster also notched a couple of points wins against Bob Stallings which Mac could not replicate further down the road, After the Pension boosting Jackpot of the Ali fights, both Mac and Buster put on weight (yes, buster got bigger ) and drifted down the "Mellow Trick Road" to their respective career end games, Buster, having crushed any harboured delusions of that Butterbean forerunner Claude Humphrey McBride, then had any of his own delusions crushed quicktime by the emerging Ron Lyle.. Foster ambled through his last four fights being losses on points to Clark Bugner Stallings and Ward, it might be that even the prime Mac would of struggled to stop any of these experienced stayers, Should historians perhaps be a little kinder to these two ? Buster beat Amos Lincoln (of Course as did Persol ) and beat Chuvalo by near shutout, and did have some decent results against the middle tier, The Lyle last fight aside Buster was only stopped by Frazier, and it took Joe 10 rounds plus of incessant Hacking to produce that Timber Moment, Bursting Busters Bubble might not be as easy as first thought ? Foster, who never won on points, must of been an intimidating sight for his usual fare of arthritic Tigers and Blunted Lions, like a fit young Burglar in an old peoples home, he usually had little to fear, but on the two occasions he tried to raid the gym Lockeroom (Quarry/Ali) he was apprehended pretty quickly, that said, he never stopped trying against Ali for the full 15 rounds, and in the big and beefy stakes he did pummel out a stoppage over Big Bepi Ros Could he do likewise against the more Adroit Mathis ? So Can Foster Bust Buster ? or can Buster survive the Mac Attack and go on to win ? Is this Another Big Mac Buster can Devour ? or would Buster Find this Big Mac too hot to Handle ?
i m surprised no1 has n opinion on this , i know i don't have 1 , but i barely watched any of them fight .
I enjoyed the lead-in in the op's post more than the actual subject, tell you the truth..very well worded.
How many rounds, 10, 12 or 15. Buster Mathis was suprisingly quick-fisted, and moved better than most big men. When mad (see versus George Chuvalo) he could lay down some good shots. Buster fought well against 'Smokin Joe' in 1968, and George Chuvalo in 1969. His poorest performance was against Jerry Quarry, but he still went the distance. Throw out his other fights (versus Muhammad Ali and Ron Lyle). Mac Foster should have done more with his talent, but for some reason he lacked desire. Too many easy fights did not prepare him for Jerry Quarry in 1970. Foster did stop Bepi Ros (December 1971), and he was the only one to do so. Most definitely one of his best wins. But, Buster is no Bepi, he is bigger and has better hand speed. I'd go with Buster by decision at 12 or 15 rounds, but no way he stops Mac. Foster's best chance is the early rounds, when his power is at full capacity. He will win a few rounds, but by Round 7, Buster takes over and cruises over the last half of the fight. In a 10-Rounder, Mac piles up points over the first 4 rounds, but Buster rallies to eake out a split-decision win.
Although Foster had power, that was really all he had in the end, He didnt have especially good handspeed or skill, he had a decent chin but nothing incredible Buster was skillfull, strong and had quite some pop himself when he sat on his puches, and he was just the more proven fighter Imo Buster takes a clear decision
Buster did more at HWT, survives some tantamount early moments, maybe floored, but gets in main control after round six, and wins a clearcut decision over Mac.
