What happened to Bob Fosters punching power

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Oct 20, 2018.


  1. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    16,297
    11,747
    Sep 21, 2017
    In the 60's, Foster fought HW's weighing 180-200 lbs and his power seemed ineffective on those men, at least the top men that weight he fought.
     
  2. richdanahuff

    richdanahuff Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,492
    13,046
    Oct 12, 2013
    I don't now what is meant by his power did not translate....his punches had thud against heavyweights he was extremely feeble for the era and he was fighting very good some ATG heavyweights...it wasn't his power that lacked it was his ability to succeed against bigger stronger men and his style....where Moore, Charles etc....were finesse fighters with power.....Bob wasn't anything of the sort he was average speed, not slick, and a stalker without cutey defensive skills and in his era with the bigger stronger men dominating and the smaller heavies being strong enough to compete to fight the bigger monsters a hard punching LtHeavyweight was not going to be a major threat. He also was a frail looking guy and barely put on weight as hard as he tried and when he went back to Albuquerque and became a sheriff deputy he was still a lanky guy by nature perhaps Mackie Shilstone or PED's would have helped.

    His punch was hard enough to hurt Frazier and IMO he was hurting Ali hence why Ali went after him
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2018
  3. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,645
    18,464
    Jun 25, 2014
    Bob Foster did carry his power to heavyweight.

    Foster scored 56 wins as a pro, 46 by knockout.

    30 of those wins came at heavyweight (where either he or his opponent - or both of them - weighed more than 175).

    And 26 of those wins came at light heavyweight (where they both weighed 175 or less).

    Among his 30 heavyweight wins, Foster scored 26 knockouts.

    Among his 26 light heavyweight wins, he scored 20 knockouts.

    He actually had a HIGHER KO percentage in his wins as a heavyweight than he did in his victories as a light heavy.

    It only seems like he didn't carry his power to heavyweight because that's where he lost his fights. But it's also where he faced his best opponents.

    Guys like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ernie Terrell, Zora Folley, Doug Jones, etc. were better than guys like Mike Quarry, Andy Kendall, Tiger (who was basically a middleweight) and Jorge Ahumada.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2018
  4. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,645
    18,464
    Jun 25, 2014
    Exactly.
     
  5. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

    49,545
    16,036
    Jul 19, 2004
    Great post
     
  6. Jackomano

    Jackomano Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,271
    7,014
    Nov 22, 2014
    Foster actually did carry up his power, but unlike Moore, Charles, and Spinks he didn't have the defense to protect himself from taking too many flush shots from his heavyweight opponents. Moorer had the same problems Foster had, since he was also not the best defensively and was an accident waiting to happen with the way he would completely disregard defense.

    Also, Moore knew every trick in the book and was very hard to hit by the larger heavyweights as was Charles. Spinks at his best also could cause many of the best heavyweight all kinds of trouble before both of his knees were no good like they were in the Tyson fight.
     
  7. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,871
    44,613
    Apr 27, 2005
    Well i just added up Ali and Frazier's weights when they actually fought Foster and halved them. Apparently the scales were a bit rigged in the Frazier bout but it doesn't make much difference.
     
  8. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

    13,985
    19,028
    Oct 4, 2016
    Bob busted Frazier with a dynamite left hook that Joe later said he felt. I think Bob's problem at heavy was taking punches, his frame wasn't built for it.
     
    Jackomano likes this.
  9. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,714
    3,456
    Jan 6, 2007
    Archie Moore (196 lbs) beat Nino Valdez (209lbs). Moore was the reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion, and Valdes was the No. 1-ranked heavyweight contender. Moore then went back down to LtHvy (175 lbs) and defended against MW Champ Bobo Olson....then back up to 188 lbs for the Hvywt Title shot against The Rock....all over 5 months.

    1955-05-02 : Archie Moore 196½ lbs beat Nino Valdes 209½ lbs by PTS in round 15 of 15
    "In the rough battle, referee Jim Braddock took one round away from each battler because of low blows. There were no knockdowns but each was knocked back onto his heels several times during the exciting slugging match. Archie Moore was bleeding from the nose and mouth at the finish, and his left eye also was swollen. But he could see very well. Nino Valdes forced the fighting in nearly every round and tried to impale his bobbing-weaving opponent with long left jabs and whistling rights. In the 13th session, Nino's left eye was closed tightly shut and he fought on half-blinded and fatigued. Moore's superiority in the 14th and 15th rounds clinched the fight and gave Moore his 20th straight victory." - United Press

    Notes
    • Moore was to have had a tuneup fight against Frankie Daniels in San Diego, California, on March 18, 1955. However, the bout was canceled and Moore's license was revoked by the state commission after doctors said Moore had a heart ailment. The following month, a specialist declared Moore's heart to be "extraordinarily good," and his fight with Valdes went on as scheduled.
    • Promoter Jack Kearns announced that Moore and Valdes would fight for the "World Heavyweight Championship of Nevada." Referring to World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano, Kearns said, "That other guy refused to fight either Moore or Valdes, so they're declaring the title vacant and the winner will claim it."
    • Moore was a 2 to 1 betting favorite.
    • Moore was the reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion, and Valdes was the No. 1-ranked heavyweight contender.
    • There was a crowd of 10,800, and the gate receipts were $102,678.
    • Former World Heavyweight Champion James J. Braddock was the referee and sole judge.
    • The Associated Press had the fight even going into the final round. The AP reported: "Moore closed fast to win the decision."
    • The United Press scored the fight 8-6-1 for Moore.
    Post Fight Comments
    • IBC secretary Truman Gibson said, "Moore's showing tonight was so impressive that the heavyweight champion must defend against him, possibly at New York in September."
    • Moore said, "This was a big strong boy. But he died in the last three rounds."
    • Bobby Gleason, Valdes' manager, said the decision was "burglary." He accused the IBC of a "double cross" and said, "They used this fight to get Nino out of the heavyweight picture."
    • Valdes said, "There is no chance now for me with Marciano."
    Newspaper Articles
    • [1] "Heart Ailment Hits Archie Moore" United Press, March 25, 1955
    • [2] "Moore Heart Given Okay" Associated Press, April 5, 1955
    • [3] "Valdes Cuts Hard Drills" Associated Press, April 30, 1955
    • [4] "Archie More 2-to-1 Choice Over Valdes" Associated Press, May 3, 1955
    • [5] "Archie Moore Defeats Valdes" Associated Press, May 3, 1955
    • [6] "Moore Decisions Valdes, Eyes Shot at Rocky" Associated Press, May 3, 1955
    • [7] "Moore Decisions Valdes; Bids For Shot At Heavyweight Title" United Press, May 3, 1955
    • [8] "Archie Moore Seeks Two More Titles, Australian Associated Press, May 4, 1955
     
  10. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,714
    3,456
    Jan 6, 2007
    Post fight Foster said: "Joe, why did you knock me out like that?"
    Frazier responded: "Well Bob..I had too...you were trying to take my title."
     
  11. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    16,297
    11,747
    Sep 21, 2017
    I watched an interview with Bob Foster and inside his home, he showed an autographed picture of Joe Fraizer that he had that was given to him by Joe.
     
  12. Minotauro

    Minotauro Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,628
    713
    May 22, 2007
    Yeah I seen that one is that the one where Foster talks about how Joe could finish a bottle of whiskey in no time.
     
  13. Aston Villa

    Aston Villa Active Member banned Full Member

    1,386
    1,146
    Nov 22, 2011
    Excellent post
     
  14. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    The disrespect Foster receives day in and day out from boxing fans makes my stomach turn. Talk about a disrespected great. :ohno

    This content is protected
     
    Nighttrain likes this.
  15. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,691
    2,566
    Oct 18, 2004
    I wonder if Leon Spinks, Jimmy Young, and George Foreman would have felt that hook.