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Muhammad Ali vs Bob Foster 21.11.1972 - NABF Heavyweight Title (Rds 7 & 8)

4,692 views · Published 29 September 2017 · 1:58 · Indexed 23 October 2026

Channel: Classic Boxing Matches · 2017 · Sports

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Reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion, Bob Foster, steps up to challenge for the NABF Heavyweight title against Muhammad Ali.  Both men were on winning streaks following their losses to Joe Frazier just under 2 years prior and although Ali was the favorite, Foster was a World Champion and not unfamiliar with the heavyweight ranks.  More info below...

Bob Foster is one the all time great Light Heavyweight Champions but a name that doesn't get mentioned very much these days.  He was big for a light heavyweight, standing 6'3" tall with an incredible 79" reach giving him a superior advantage over most other light heavyweights of the time.  He was also a devastating puncher among the light heavyweights.  Before turning pro, Bob Foster had  a great career as an amateur while a member of the US Air Force.  He reportedly had over 100 amateur fights and only lost 3.  Foster also became a coach for the Air Force Boxing Team, coaching fellow future heavyweight contenders, Doug Jones and Billy Daniels.  Foster turned pro in 1961 and went undefeated in his first 9 fights before suffering his first loss, a TKO against his former student in the Air Force Boxing Team, Doug Jones.  For the next 3 years Foster boxed between the weight divisions and picked up some good wins against his light heavyweight peers but struggled against more established heavyweights such as Ernie Terrell and Zora Folley.  From 1966 onward however Foster would have the best run of his entire career winning 20 contests in a row, 19 by KO!  During this period Foster would beat veteran Dick Tiger to win the World Light Heavyweight title and defend it successfully 4 times.  Due to his recent run of success and his penchant for occasionally stepping up to heavyweight, Foster was granted a shot at World Heavyweight Champion, Joe Frazier.  Unfortunately for Foster, Frazier dominated the contest and it only took him 2 rounds to put Foster away.  The loss did little to effect the career of Foster however as he went on another 8 win streak which included the 1972 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year title defense against Chris Finnegan.  Foster's record at the time was 49-5.

Muhammad Ali returned to the ring in 1970 after a 3 year exile for refusing to join the US Army efforts in Vietnam.  Upon his return Ali notched up 2 wins against Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena however neither of those men could prepare Ali for the fight Joe Frazier would put up in their 1971 World title fight.  Ali was dropped in the final round and Frazier would pick up a unanimous 15 round decision, the first loss of Ali's career.  Ali was never one to quit however and he bounced back strongly winning the NABF Heavyweight title in his next fight against Jimmy Ellis and then successfully defending it against Buster Mathis, George Chuvalo, Jerry Quarry and Floyd Patterson.  Ali's record before meeting Foster stood at 39-1.

Ali and Foster had almost identical height and reach measurements however Ali had a significant 40lb weight advantage coming in at 221lbs compared to Fosters 180lbs and you can see the clear difference in size on camera.  Foster was initially the quicker fighter and even managed to open a cut above Ali's eye in the early rounds, the first time Ali had ever been cut!  However as the fight wore on it was clear Ali was not bothered byt the cut or Foster's punchers and had no fear in coming straight at the World Light Heavyweight Champion.  Foster was being worn down by Ali's heavier punchers and in Rd 5 he was knocked down 4 times!  He managed to stay on his feet in Rd 6 but he was dropped again twice more in Rd 7 before finally being counted out in the 8th Rd.  Ali was toying with his man in the last couple rounds, feigning injury and pretending to be hurt (which I think also fooled the commentator!) but he was in complete control.

Although he lost, Foster was the still the World Light Heavyweight Champion.  He would defend his title in back to back decision wins against South African Light Heavyweight Champion, Pierre Fourie.  In 1974 Foster defended his title against Argentinean fighter, Jorge Victor Ahumada, with the fight ending in a draw after 15 rounds.  Foster saw the writing on the wall following the close call and decided to retire as Champion in 1974.  However the allure of the ring was too much, and 12 months later Foster returned, but without his World Light Heavyweight titles.  Foster campaigned strictly as a heavyweight for the last 3 years of his career and picked up 5 easy wins against mediocre competition.  But in February 1978 Foster suffered his first loss since coming out of retirement, controversially retiring on his stool after 5 rounds against undefeated Mustafa Wasajja, claiming a hand injury.  Subsequent x-rays and medical examinations could find no such injury however...  Foster's final fight was a TKO loss against journeyman Bob Hazelton in June 1978 after which he retired with a 56-8-1 record.

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