Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali in his quest for a rematch with World Heavyweight Champion 'Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Muhammad takes on Macarthur 'Mac' Foster.

It was a 'minor concern bout' for the former champion, as Mac Foster was still a mystery. Despite a record of 29-1-0 {29 KO's},
Mac was not a 'one-punch' Knockout Artist. He was more of a plodder with above-average power, but far from a vicious puncher.

Saturday ~ April 1, 1972
Bout Start Time > 12:24 PM {Noon}

Hihon Budokan ~ Tokyo, Japan
Attendance; 15,000

Promoter; Yoshio Kou

Muhammad Ali ~ 34-1-0 {27 KO's} ~ Age; 30 years, 3 months ~ Height; 6' 3" ~ Weight; 226 lbs. ~ Reach; 80" ~ #1 WBA Ranked
vs.
Mac Foster ~ 29-1-0 {29 KO's} ~ Age; 29 years, 9 months ~ Height; 6' 2" ~ Weight; 211 3/4 lbs. ~ Reach; 79" ~ #9 WBA Ranked

Fight Purses
Muhammad Ali....... $400,000
Mac Foster.............. $80,000

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali

Was training at the Fifth Street Gym until March 15, 1972. The Ali Team arrived Tokyo, Japan on March 16th.

Muhammad arrived at near 235 lbs., and was 'flabby'. But in 2-Weeks of training at the famous Tanabe Gym, Muhammad whittled away 10 lbs. of fat.

Muhammad sparred with 37 1/2 year-old veteran Alonzo Johnson, and 165 lb. Super-Middleweight - David Adkins. 3-Rounds with each of them per day.
Followed by 5-Rounds on the Heavy Bag.

Muhammad worked on pressing forward, and hand-speed. He predicted a 5th Round Knockout.

While staying at the Hotel Okura, Muhammad opened up with his typical rants at the Press Area, stating that Joe Frazier was 'finished' as a fighter.
Muhammad was hoping for a rematch in September 1972, with the proposed bout to take place in either Los Angeles or Houston.

Muhammad added, that Joe Frazier looked 'horrible' against over-matched Terry Daniels in January 1972, and that Joe could not keep the 'College Boy' down.

[Bill Paxtom]

Mac Foster

Prior to this bout, Mac changed his management, and went with George Stassi, who brought in
Ralph Gambina as Head Trainer.

Mac had 'dumped' former manager Pat DiFuria and Trainer Gil Sanchez.

He had blamed them for mismanaging his career, and costing him tens of thousands of dollars.

Mac had wanted to dump Pat Difuria as early as January 1971, but Pat had a 5-year contract that
expired at the 'end' of 1971.

[AdamGB]

[Bill Paxtom]

Mac Foster

"I'll lay back for 5-Rounds, and wait to attack. Then I'll chase that 'dog' all over the Ring."

"I was 222 lbs. for my last bout, which was way to heavy. I'm not a slugger, I'm a boxer
who can punch at 211 lbs."

"I've got '2' good sparring partners {Henry Culpepper and Wayne Kindred} to help me here in Japan.
I spent 5-Weeks at Gilman Hot Springs in California getting ready. Now 2-Weeks here in Tokyo, and
I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

[AdamGB]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4zLfCnGVeL4&feature=kp