Former world Light heavyweight champion, Bob Foster in 1990 was inducted into the International Boxing Hall. Born December 15, 1938 in Albeuquerque, New Mexico, Foster began his boxing career as an amateur when he was 12 years old, joined the U.S Air force in 1955 and made his professional boxing debut at the Washington D.C Armoury March 27, 1961 by knocking out Duke Williams in the second round. Foster's biggest win came May 24, 1968 when he knocked out Dick Tiger in the fourth round at Madison Square Garden, New York to capture the world Light heavyweight title. He was the first man to retain his light heavyweight title fourteen consecutive times and retired with the title. Two of his losses came from two former world heavyweight champions ing Joe Frazier who knocked him out in the second round in November 1970 and Muhammed Ali who KO'ed him in the 8th round in November of 1973. Foster's knockout over Mike Quarry June 27, 1972 was documented as one of the most perfect blows ever thrown in boxing history.
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Ike: What are you doing these days, Mr. Foster?
Foster: These days, I watch football then I work three days at the District Court
House as a security officer protecting Justice, Peace and Order, a job for
retired Police Officers who carry guns. I worked for the Police Department
here in Albeuquerque for 23 years as a Sergent when I retired. I was in
the Deptartment from 1971 to 1994.
Ike: What made you get into Boxing?
Foster: I always liked boxing. As a child we were taught different sports in school,
I picked boxing as my favorite.
Ike: Did you win amateur titles?
Foster: I won several titles in the service, I won the All Air Force games, won
in-services competition, won the Olympics trial in 1960 but they took
Muhammed Ali to represent my weight division, Light Heavyweight while
they wanted me to drop my weight to Middleweight, I just couldn't do that
in order to go to Olympics. Ali won a Gold at the Olympics.
Ike: What was your amateur record?
Foster: 100 fights, lost 4 with 50 K.O's
Ike: How did you feel when you won the Light heavyweight title from Dick Tiger
in 1968?
Foster: Tiger was a smaller fighter, he was too small for me, I knocked him out
in the fourth round. He didn't even want a rematch.
Ike: What was your impression of former light heavy Champ, Jose Torres?
Foster: He didn't want to fight me either.
Ike: Your thoughts on Dick Tiger as a fighter?
Foster: He was a good fighter but I think he belonged in the middleweight division.
Ike: How did you develop you punching power skills?
Foster: It was God given.
Ike: When did you retire from the Air force?
Foster: I joined in September 1955 and retired after five years, September 1960.
Ike: How would you compare Boxing today to your days?
Foster: Todays boxing is sickening, these days you see guys with 3-4 fights becoming
world champions. It's really a joke nowadays, it is more like wrestling.
There are many crooked judges and promoters. The game is all about money
now, and fighters avoiding others.
Ike: What's your impression of Roy Jones Jr.?
Foster: A small good fighter, in my own oppinon the best pound for pound in the
world today. I think Jones will beat any heavyweight out there. He will
knockout that kid from England, Lennox Lewis. I don't see anyone out there
in the heavyweight division that can defeat Jones except that kid, Ike
Ibeabuchi. He is a very strong guy, good puncher, has speed and a little
too strong for Jones.
Ike: Why did you come back after you announced your retirement on September 16,
1974?
Foster: I really didn't want to Box anymore. I just got tired of boxing and I
didn't want to end up like Ali.
Ike: What was it like when you fought Frazier?
Foster: It was very tough! Frazier's like a bull, he comes straight at you.
Ike: Did you feel like you were not ready for that fight with Frazier?
Foster: I was ready for the fight but I guess everything went wrong. I had a lot
of punching power to deal with him. If I caught him in that first round
with the left hook, I would have knocked him out.
Ike: Word of advice to those who might want to become Boxers?
Foster: Boxing today is not what it used to be. I wouldn't really want anyone
getting involved in the game. Though I have a boy, Jesse Brae, he has very
good jabs and he's a middleweight, hasn't turned pro yet.
Ike: Your thoughts of your fight with Ali in 1973?
Foster: It was an experience, I used to spar with Ali all the time when we were
about 18 or 19 years old. We boxed together at the Olympic trials, I used
to shake him up. Ali was a very slick, clever fighter, he was smarter than
Frazier, but Ali didn't have the punching power. He was fast and can take
punches too. Frazier would never beat Ali in his prime. Ali was a great
fighter but stayed in the game long.
Ike: Why did you decide to fight Frazier at the heavyweight level?
Foster: I was running out of opponents and needed money, so I had to fight Frazier
for the world heavyweight title.
Ike: Your impression of Frazier?
Foster: He was the toughtest, he was tougher than any heavyweight out there then.
I went against very tough fighter.
Ike: What was you reaction when you knocked out Mike Quarry on June 27th, 1972?
Foster: I thought I killed him, he wasn't moving but after the fight I was with
Ali in Ceasers hotel Casino drinking some beer when Quarry came by. He
said, "Now I want to tell you what it feels to get hit by a speeding train".
Ike: Who was your toughtest opponent during your days in the ring?
Foster: It was Roger Rouse from Montana, a good puncher, he caught me with some
good shots but I stopped him in the fifth round in our fight September
1968.
Ike: What were your thoughts after your bouts with South African, Pierre Fourie?
Foster: Both fights were easy. In the second fight I was the first black man to
fight a white South African in South Africa.
Ike: How would you describe your fight with him in South Africa?
Foster: It was an exciting event where more than 100 thousand people came out to
see the fight. They treated me alright but I didn't like how they separated
blacks on one side and whites on the other side. I guess things are
improving now, after Nelson Mandela became the first black South African
President.
Ike: How did you cope with the climate?
Foster: I travelled to South Africa couple of weeks ahead to train and get used
to the weather.
Ike: What do you think of women Boxing?
Foster: I guess it's alright. It's getting publicity.
Ike: Thank you for giving us the this time to interview. Best of luck to you.