52 years ago
Muhammad Ali vs Bob Foster
Date: 21st November 1972
Venue: Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Stateline, Nevada, USATitle: NABF Heavyweight Title
Referee: Mills Lane
Muhammad Ali
(
39
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 221 1/4 lbs
Bob Foster
(
49
-
5
-
0
)
Weight: 180 lbs
On November 21, 1972, at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, Muhammad Ali defended his NABF heavyweight title against light heavyweight champion Bob Foster in a bout demonstrating the stark realities of weight class disparities. The 41-pound weight difference (Ali at 221ΒΌ, Foster at 180) would prove decisive.
The contest marked Foster's second attempt at heavyweight glory following his second-round knockout loss to Joe Frazier two years prior. Despite entering fresh off a celebrated defence of his light heavyweight titles against Chris Finnegan - later named The Ring's Fight of the Year - Foster was overwhelmed by Ali's size and skill.
The fight's most significant moment came when Foster opened a cut above Ali's left eye - notably the first time Ali had been cut in his professional career. However, this success proved fleeting. The fifth round saw Foster hit the canvas four times, followed by two more knockdowns in the seventh. The end came at 0:40 of the eighth round when referee Mills Lane completed the count after Foster's seventh trip to the canvas.
At the time of the stoppage, the judges' scorecards reflected Ali's dominance: Stremmell had it 35-27, Rusk 35-28, and Smercina 34-28. Ali earned $250,000 for his efforts, while Foster received his career-best purse of $125,000. The bout represented Ali's fifth successful defence of his NABF heavyweight title while reinforcing the challenges even elite light heavyweights faced when moving up to face the division's best.
Muhammad Ali vs Bob Foster on YouTube
