{"id":3872,"date":"2010-07-22T15:22:39","date_gmt":"2010-07-22T19:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=3872"},"modified":"2010-07-22T15:22:39","modified_gmt":"2010-07-22T19:22:39","slug":"rsr-says-goodbye-to-1970%e2%80%99s-heavyweight-contender-mac-foster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=3872","title":{"rendered":"RSR Says Goodbye to 1970\u2019s Heavyweight Contender Mac Foster"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By Brian Wilbur<\/strong><\/p>\n

The date was April 1st, 1972 and the site, Nihon Budokon in Tokyo, Japan.\u00a0 The challenge?\u00a0 Defeating the greatest Heavyweight Champion of all time.\u00a0 29-year-old power-punching contender Mac Foster was up for the challenge.\u00a0 Though the Heavyweight Championship was not on the line for this battle, there was plenty at stake.\u00a0 Both men only had one career loss on their resumes.\u00a0 Muhammad Ali was on the comeback trail trying to get a return match against Joe Frazier.\u00a0 Foster was looking for his first opportunity to fight for a title, which surely would come with a win over Ali.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How did Foster get to that point?\u00a0 The Ali fight is considered pinnacle of his career and the point at which he is most remembered by boxing fans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Foster had humble beginnings, growing up in a large family in Fresno, California.\u00a0 Mac, a gifted high school athlete, turned professional in 1966 after finding success in the armed services boxing program during his time as a US Marine.\u00a0 He demolished his early competition, not just winning but knocking out everyone in his path.\u00a0 At one point his record was 24-0 with all 24 wins coming by way of knockout.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His first step up against an established contender was in 1969 against Thad Spencer.\u00a0 Eager for the challenge, Foster won with an emphatic 1st round KO, forcing the boxing world to take note of the up and coming prospect from Fresno.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shortly after the Spencer fight, former world title challenger Cleveland Williams fell victim to Foster\u2019s vaunted power.\u00a0 By this time Foster was an intimidating force in a golden age of heavyweight boxing.\u00a0 His combination of size, power, and amateur pedigree was enough to earn him respect and buzz.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Come 1970, Foster was poised for a shot at Champion Joe Frazier with one more win.\u00a0 He faced off against fellow top ranked contender Jerry Quarry at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York.\u00a0 After a compelling six round battle, Foster was unable to continue and he suffered the first loss off his career.<\/p>\n

The former military man got right back in line against a top notch opponent to earn his ranking.\u00a0 Mac took on seasoned veteran Zora Folley, rousing his hometown fans in Fresno with a one-sided, one-round beat down of Folley.\u00a0 He backed his win up with three more wins, including a TKO over undefeated prospect Mike Boswell, to prove to the boxing world that he was still the same scary presence that he was before the Quarry fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Opponents had trouble standing up to Foster\u2019s incredible power.\u00a0 All of his career wins came via knockout.\u00a0 Even in sparring his knockout punch could not be contained.\u00a0 Rumors abounded that Foster was able to knockout Sonny Liston and Ken Norton during heated sparring sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Muhammad Ali was one man who did not shy away from stiff challenges so he agreed to buck the trend and fight the often-avoided slugger.\u00a0 The Ali vs. Foster match was a bit anti-climactic, but in true-life sports, the endings are not scripted or rehearsed.\u00a0 Foster pressed forward trying to score, but like many others, he was unable to figure out the enigmatic defense of Ali, dropping a decision in a 15 round non-title fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although there is no shame in losing to Muhammad Ali, the loss in Tokyo just about signified the end of Foster\u2019s serious career.\u00a0 He partook in six more bouts, losing four, including a points loss to Joe Bugner as well as a puzzling split decision loss to journeyman Bob Stallings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Perhaps the rapid downward spiral was due in part to Mac\u2019s inability to get back to his ideal fighting weight.\u00a0 Foster weighed around 210 pounds in his prime.\u00a0 In his last four fights he was approximately 10 to 20 pounds over his ideal fighting weight, a sign that a prizefighter is no longer in peak condition.\u00a0 Foster wisely hung up his gloves for good in 1976.<\/p>\n

Foster became a community leader in retirement coaching youth boxing programs.\u00a0 Sadly, Mac \u201cThe Knife\u201d Foster passed away earlier this week from congestive heart failure at the age of 68.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mac will be remembered for his amazing punch, jovial attitude, and inviting smile.\u00a0 Ringside Report sounds the final 10 count for this fallen warrior.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mac Foster
\nDivision: Heavyweight
\nProfessional Record: 30-6, 30 KO\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n

Date\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Opponent\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Location\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Result<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

1966-11-28 Jimmy Gilmore\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Las Vegas, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 3<\/p>\n

1967-01-05 Leroy Birmingham\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Los Angeles, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 1<\/p>\n

1967-02-06 Sam Wyatt\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 1
\n1967-03-14 L J Wheeler\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 6
\n1967-05-09 Lou Phillips\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 3
\n1967-06-13 Lino Armenteros\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 3
\n1967-08-29 Floyd Joyner\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 7
\n1967-10-11 Ray Junior Ellis\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 2
\n1967-11-28 Roy Wallace\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 7<\/p>\n

1968-01-23 Hubert Hilton\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 5
\n1968-02-27 Steve Grant\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 2
\n1968-04-02 Sonny Moore\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 2
\n1968-07-09 Curtis Bruce\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 3
\n1968-08-08 Tommy Burns\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Seattle, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 1
\n1968-08-16 Tommy Fields\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 5
\n1968-11-27 Joe Hemphill\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Las Vegas, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 3<\/p>\n

1969-01-21 Roger Rischer\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 4
\n1969-05-20 Thad Spencer\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 1
\n1969-08-19 Roger Russell\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 3
\n1969-09-13 Cleveland Williams\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 5
\n1969-11-18 Cleveland Williams\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Houston, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 3
\n1969-12-16 Bob Felstein\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 2<\/p>\n

1970-03-24 Jimmy Rossette\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 4
\n1970-04-09 Jack O’Halloran\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Los Angeles, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 1
\n1970-06-17 Jerry Quarry\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 New York, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 L KO\u00a0\u00a0 6
\n1970-09-29 Zora Folley\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fresno, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 1<\/p>\n

1971-03-25 Mike Boswell\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Los Angeles, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 4
\n1971-07-29 Billy Joiner\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Los Angeles, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 5
\n1971-12-26 Giuseppe Ros\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zurich, CH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0\u00a0 8<\/p>\n

1972-04-01 Muhammad Ali\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 JP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 L UD\u00a0 15<\/p>\n

1973-04-11 Sam McGill\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chicago, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W TKO\u00a0 9
\n1973-05-03 Charles Williams\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chicago, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W KO\u00a0 10
\n1973-06-30 Bob Stallings\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chicago, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 L SD\u00a0 10
\n1973-11-13 Joe Bugner\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wembley, UK\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 L PTS 10<\/p>\n

1974-05-30 Henry Clark\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oakland, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 L UD\u00a0 10<\/p>\n

1976-02-26 Stan Ward\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 San Jose, US\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 L UD\u00a0 10<\/p>\n

Advertise Now On RSR<\/a><\/p>\n

Purchase Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Brian Wilbur The date was April 1st, 1972 and the site, Nihon Budokon in Tokyo, Japan.\u00a0 The challenge?\u00a0 Defeating the greatest Heavyweight Champion of all time.\u00a0 29-year-old power-punching contender Mac Foster was up for the challenge.\u00a0 Though the Heavyweight Championship was not on the line for this battle, there was plenty at stake.\u00a0 Both […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[105,1413,319,378,1412,521,722],"class_list":["post-3872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boxing-news","tag-boxing","tag-died","tag-heavyweight","tag-jerry-quarry","tag-mac-foster","tag-muhummad-ali","tag-tribute"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3872"}],"version-history":[{"count":-3,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3872\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}