Bob Foster
Encyclopedia
Bob Foster is a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico
, USA whom many boxing
critics consider to be one of the greatest Light Heavyweight
world champions in history. As an amateur he won a silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games
.
, in Washington, D.C.
, winning by a knockout
in two rounds. The first 12 bouts of his career were spent campaigning in the United States' Eastern coast and in Canada. In his tenth bout, he made his first of multiple forays into the Heavyweight division, and suffered his first loss, at the hands of Doug Jones
by a knockout in the eighth round.
After two more wins, he went in 1963 to Peru
, where he lost to South American champion Mauro Mina
by a decision in ten rounds at Lima.
Three more fights back in the States resulted in quick knockout wins for him, and then, in 1964, he made his second attempt at entering the Heavyweight rankings, being knocked out in the seventh by future world Heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell
. He finished the year by posting three more knockout wins at Light Heavyweight, two of them on one night: November 11. That was the night that Foster's first fight of note as a Light Heavyweight took place: Minutes after knocking out Don Quinn in the first round, he stepped up in the ring again and faced former world title challenger Henry Hank. He beat Hank by a knockout in the tenth.
In 1965, he had five fights, winning four and losing one. He beat Hank again, by decision in 12, and lost to Zora Folley
, by a decision in ten, in another attempt at joining the Heavyweight top ten.
In 1966 he defeated Leroy Green in two rounds.
By 1967, Foster, although his attempts to become a top Heavyweight were being frustrated, was a ranked Light Heavyweight. He decided to stick to the Light Heavyweight division for the time being, and he won all seven of his fights, six by knockout. Among the fighters he beat were Eddie Cotton
, Eddie Vick, and Sonny Moore
. After defeating Moore, Foster was the world's number one ranked Light Heavyweight challenger.
In 1968, Foster got his first shot at a world title. At Madison Square Garden
in New York, on the night of May 24, Foster became world champion by knocking out the also late Dick Tiger
in four rounds. Tiger had been a two time world Middleweight champion and was defending his world Light Heavyweight crown that night. Then, Foster decided to try on the Heavyweights once again, and he beat future George Foreman
victim Charlie Polite
by a knockout in three. He ended that year defeating Vick again, and his future world title challenger Roger Rouse, both by a knockout.
In 1969, he began by rising off the canvas to knock out Frank De Paula in the same first round and retain his belt. It is believed that was the first time ever a boxer won a world title fight in the first round after being floored in that same round. It is also believed that that fight is one of only two times that's happened, the second time being in 1984, when Juan Kid Mesa rose off a knockdown to dethrone world Jr. Featherweight champion Jaime Garza
in the same first round too.
Foster's next fight in 1969 was against Andy Kendall, whom he beat in four rounds by knockout, to once again retain the crown. He closed the 1960s with two more knockout wins.
In 1970, Foster made two more trips to the heavyweights. In the first, he beat fringe contender Cookie Wallace in six rounds by knockout. This was followed by a return to the Light Heavyweight division to defend his title against Rouse. Infuriated by some comments that Rouse's manager had made before the bout concerning the fact that even though Foster knocked out Rouse in their first bout he was not able to drop him, Foster dropped Rouse five times en route to a fourth round knockout victory. A knockout in 10 to retain the battle against Mark Tessman followed, and then he was given the chance to challenge for the world's Heavyweight title. Facing world champion Joe Frazier
on the night of November 18 in Detroit, he was knocked out in two rounds.
After defeating Hal Carroll by a knockout in four rounds to defend his crown, the WBA
stripped him of the title, but he kept being world champion on the WBC
. Foster became enraged at the WBA, which proceeded to have Vicente Rondon
of Venezuela
and Jimmy Dupree fight for the world title. Rondon won, becoming the second Latin American world Light Heavyweight champion (after José Torres
), and Foster set his eyes on him. Foster went on defending his WBC world title, and he defeated challengers Ray Anderson
, Tommy Hicks, and Brian Kelly. Of those three, it was Anderson who was the only one to last the 15 round distance with Foster.
Foster and Rondon met in Miami on April 7, 1972, in an unificatory bout. Foster became the undisputed world champion once again, by knocking Rondon out in the second round. In his next fight, he used what many critics have called one of the best punches in history to retain his title by a knockout in four against Mike Quarry
. He then went up in weight and faced former and future world Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali
, in what was legendary referee Mills Lane
's first bout of note as a referee. Foster lost to Ali by a knockout in the eighth, after being knocked down 7 times.
In 1973, Foster retained his title twice against Pierre Fourie, both by decision. Their second fight had a distinct social impact because it was fought in Apartheid-ruled South Africa
, Foster being Black and Fourie being White. Foster became a hero to South African Blacks by beating Fourie the first time around, and in their rematch, the first boxing fight in South Africa after Apartheid featuring a White versus a Black, he cemented that position by defeating Fourie on points again. However, as Mark Mathabane
noted in his autobiography
Kaffir Boy
, South Africa's black population also felt betrayed by Foster since he didn't address Apartheid during his time in South Africa.
His last defense as world Light Heavyweight champion came in 1974, when he was dropped by Argentinian
Jorge Ahumada
, but managed to keep the title with a draw. After that, he announced his retirement, leaving the world's Light Heavyweight championship vacant.
Later on, the avid autograph
signer was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
.
Foster had a record of 56 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw, with 46 wins coming by knockout.
He was named to Ring Magazine's list of 100 Greatest Punchers. He was also named to Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years, ranking at #55.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, USA whom many boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
critics consider to be one of the greatest Light Heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
world champions in history. As an amateur he won a silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games
Boxing at the 1959 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1959 Pan American Games was held in Chicago, United States, from August 27 to September 7.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:*...
.
Professional career
Foster started his professional career on the night of March 27, 1961, against Duke WilliamsDuke Williams
Duke Williams is an American musician who fronted the musical group Duke Williams and the Extremes. Their song "Chinese Chicken" was featured on the breakbeat compilation Ultimate Breaks and Beats. Richie Sambora played with Williams before forming Bon Jovi.The band released two albums on Capricorn...
, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, winning by a knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in two rounds. The first 12 bouts of his career were spent campaigning in the United States' Eastern coast and in Canada. In his tenth bout, he made his first of multiple forays into the Heavyweight division, and suffered his first loss, at the hands of Doug Jones
Doug Jones (boxer)
Doug Jones is a former American heavyweight boxer.- Boxing career :Doug "Pugilism" Jones started off his career successfully with 18 consecutive wins against mostly lightly regarded opponents, until his first loss occurred at the hands of Eddie Machen. He lost his next two fights, and the third a...
by a knockout in the eighth round.
After two more wins, he went in 1963 to Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, where he lost to South American champion Mauro Mina
Mauro Mina
Mauro Mina Baylón was a Peruvian Light Heavyweight boxer known as the "Bombardero de Chincha", remembered as the best Peruvian boxer of the twentieth century....
by a decision in ten rounds at Lima.
Three more fights back in the States resulted in quick knockout wins for him, and then, in 1964, he made his second attempt at entering the Heavyweight rankings, being knocked out in the seventh by future world Heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell
Ernie Terrell
Ernie Terrell is an American singer, record producer, and former World Boxing Association heavyweight boxing champion. At , he was very tall, by the standards of the day....
. He finished the year by posting three more knockout wins at Light Heavyweight, two of them on one night: November 11. That was the night that Foster's first fight of note as a Light Heavyweight took place: Minutes after knocking out Don Quinn in the first round, he stepped up in the ring again and faced former world title challenger Henry Hank. He beat Hank by a knockout in the tenth.
In 1965, he had five fights, winning four and losing one. He beat Hank again, by decision in 12, and lost to Zora Folley
Zora Folley
Zora Folley was an American heavyweight boxer. He was well skilled with a good defence and also a punch to go with it....
, by a decision in ten, in another attempt at joining the Heavyweight top ten.
In 1966 he defeated Leroy Green in two rounds.
By 1967, Foster, although his attempts to become a top Heavyweight were being frustrated, was a ranked Light Heavyweight. He decided to stick to the Light Heavyweight division for the time being, and he won all seven of his fights, six by knockout. Among the fighters he beat were Eddie Cotton
Eddie Cotton
Eddie Cotton was a former boxer. Cotton was a resident of Seattle, Washington until his death on June 25, 1990 following a second liver transplant.- Career :...
, Eddie Vick, and Sonny Moore
From First to Last
From First to Last was an American rock band based out of Los Angeles, originally hailing from Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. The band released their first EP titled Aesthetic in 2003 with vocalist Phillip Reardon, followed by Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count in 2004 and Heroine in...
. After defeating Moore, Foster was the world's number one ranked Light Heavyweight challenger.
In 1968, Foster got his first shot at a world title. At Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York, on the night of May 24, Foster became world champion by knocking out the also late Dick Tiger
Dick Tiger
Dick Tiger CBE was a boxer from Ubahu village, Amaigbo, Nigeria, who emigrated to Liverpool and later to the United States of America. Tiger was a member of the Igbo ethnic group...
in four rounds. Tiger had been a two time world Middleweight champion and was defending his world Light Heavyweight crown that night. Then, Foster decided to try on the Heavyweights once again, and he beat future George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
victim Charlie Polite
Charlie Polite
Charlie Polite is an American boxer, born in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall.Born in Garnet, SC, raised in Springfield, MA, he was described as an "odd American journeyman."- Boxing career :...
by a knockout in three. He ended that year defeating Vick again, and his future world title challenger Roger Rouse, both by a knockout.
In 1969, he began by rising off the canvas to knock out Frank De Paula in the same first round and retain his belt. It is believed that was the first time ever a boxer won a world title fight in the first round after being floored in that same round. It is also believed that that fight is one of only two times that's happened, the second time being in 1984, when Juan Kid Mesa rose off a knockdown to dethrone world Jr. Featherweight champion Jaime Garza
Jaime Garza
Jaime Garza was a Mexican American boxer in the Featherweight division. He's the former WBC Super Bantamweight Champion.-Professional career:...
in the same first round too.
Foster's next fight in 1969 was against Andy Kendall, whom he beat in four rounds by knockout, to once again retain the crown. He closed the 1960s with two more knockout wins.
In 1970, Foster made two more trips to the heavyweights. In the first, he beat fringe contender Cookie Wallace in six rounds by knockout. This was followed by a return to the Light Heavyweight division to defend his title against Rouse. Infuriated by some comments that Rouse's manager had made before the bout concerning the fact that even though Foster knocked out Rouse in their first bout he was not able to drop him, Foster dropped Rouse five times en route to a fourth round knockout victory. A knockout in 10 to retain the battle against Mark Tessman followed, and then he was given the chance to challenge for the world's Heavyweight title. Facing world champion Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
on the night of November 18 in Detroit, he was knocked out in two rounds.
After defeating Hal Carroll by a knockout in four rounds to defend his crown, the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
stripped him of the title, but he kept being world champion on the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
. Foster became enraged at the WBA, which proceeded to have Vicente Rondon
Vicente Rondon
Vicente Paúl Rondón was a former WBA light heavyweight boxing world champion.- Personal background :Rondon was born in extreme poverty in Río Chico, Miranda, Venezuela, and decided to escape his poor surroundings by enlisting in the Venezuelan military at an early age.- Professional career :When...
of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and Jimmy Dupree fight for the world title. Rondon won, becoming the second Latin American world Light Heavyweight champion (after José Torres
José Torres
José Torres , was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur boxer, he won a silver medal in the junior middleweight at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. In 1965, he defeated Willie Pastrano to win the WBC and WBA light heavyweight championships...
), and Foster set his eyes on him. Foster went on defending his WBC world title, and he defeated challengers Ray Anderson
Ray Anderson (boxer)
Ray Anderson was a boxer in the light heavyweight division who fought from 1965 to 1977. Anderson currently lives in Akron, Ohio...
, Tommy Hicks, and Brian Kelly. Of those three, it was Anderson who was the only one to last the 15 round distance with Foster.
Foster and Rondon met in Miami on April 7, 1972, in an unificatory bout. Foster became the undisputed world champion once again, by knocking Rondon out in the second round. In his next fight, he used what many critics have called one of the best punches in history to retain his title by a knockout in four against Mike Quarry
Mike Quarry
Mike Quarry born in Bakersfield, California, was a light heavyweight boxer. He had a record of 63-13-6 including 17 knockouts during his career, which began in 1969 and ended in 1982....
. He then went up in weight and faced former and future world Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, in what was legendary referee Mills Lane
Mills Lane
Mills Bee Lane III is a retired boxing referee, a former boxer, was a two term Washoe County District Court Judge, and television personality...
's first bout of note as a referee. Foster lost to Ali by a knockout in the eighth, after being knocked down 7 times.
In 1973, Foster retained his title twice against Pierre Fourie, both by decision. Their second fight had a distinct social impact because it was fought in Apartheid-ruled South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Foster being Black and Fourie being White. Foster became a hero to South African Blacks by beating Fourie the first time around, and in their rematch, the first boxing fight in South Africa after Apartheid featuring a White versus a Black, he cemented that position by defeating Fourie on points again. However, as Mark Mathabane
Mark Mathabane
Mark Mathabane is an author, lecturer, and a former collegiate tennis player and college professor.- Early life in South Africa :...
noted in his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
Kaffir Boy
Kaffir Boy
Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa is Mark Mathabane's 1986 autobiography about life under the South African apartheid regime...
, South Africa's black population also felt betrayed by Foster since he didn't address Apartheid during his time in South Africa.
His last defense as world Light Heavyweight champion came in 1974, when he was dropped by Argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Jorge Ahumada
Jorge Ahumada
Jorge Victor Ahumada is a former professional boxer. Notable fights include four bouts with Victor Galindez, a title bout with Bob Foster which ended in a draw, and a bout with John Conteh for the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship.-References:...
, but managed to keep the title with a draw. After that, he announced his retirement, leaving the world's Light Heavyweight championship vacant.
Retirement and comeback
Foster later tried to come back multiple times, with mixed results. After losing by knockout to Bob Hazelton in two rounds in 1978, he decided to hang up the gloves for good.Life after boxing
In his retirement, the former world champion joined the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department and became a detective, where he would become a well known officer in the Albuquerque area.Later on, the avid autograph
Autograph
An autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
signer was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
.
Foster had a record of 56 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw, with 46 wins coming by knockout.
He was named to Ring Magazine's list of 100 Greatest Punchers. He was also named to Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years, ranking at #55.
External links
- New Mexico Boxing, the Bob Foster story
- http://www.bobfosterboxing.net