Jimmy DuPree vs. Vicente Rondon ~ 'vacant' WBA Light-Heavyweight Championship

[Bill Paxtom]

December 10, 1970

The World Boxing Association {WBA} 'strips' Bob Foster of his Championship.

Bob Foster, who wion the Title on May 24, 1968 > had yet to defend against a
#1 WBA-ranked Challenger.

Though Foster had made '4' Title Defenses of the WBA/WBC Championship, none were
against the 'mandatory' #1 WBA Challenger.

Foster had last defended his World Championship on June 27, 1970 against Mark Tessman.
Foster was supposed to sign a contract to defend against the #1 WBA-ranked Challanger
Jimmy Dupree for his next bout.

But, Foster decided to challenge Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight World Championship on
November 18, 1970 instead.

The WBA stated that they would allow Bob Foster to challenge for the World Heavyweight
Champinship, provided that Foster negotiated in 'good faith' to sign a contract to defend
against #1 WBA-ranked Jimmy Dupree, and fight him {no Later} than 90-Days after the
bout with Joe Frazier {by February 18, 1971}

During that time frame between June 27th and November 18th {140-Days} Bob Foster showed
no inclination of signing a 'fight contract' to defend his WBA-version against #1 WBA-ranked
Jimmy Dupree.

After Bob Foster's bout with Joe Frazier {November 18th}, Foster was given 20-Days by the
WBA to sign a contract to defend his WBA-version against Jimmy Dupree.

As of Decmeber 9, 1970 > Lou Vicusi {Manager for Bob Foster} did not offer up any contracts
to Al Braverman {Manager for Jimmy Dupree}.
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Al Bravermam {Manager for Jimmy Dupree} >

Jimmy has been the #1 WBA Challenger since October 1, 1969 when he stopped {TKO 10}
Eddie 'Bossman' Jones. Since that time, Bob Foster has only defended his Title 'twice'.

Foster defended his WBA/WBC Title against Roger Rouse on April 4, 1970.

Then Bob wanted to challenge Heavyweight Champion - Joe Frazier. So we said OK, as long
as we got the next bout. Well, Joe Frazier broke his ankle in April 1970, and the between
Frazier and Foster was put off for 3-Months. They said it was to set for July 1970.

Next thing we know, Foster is defending his Title on June 27th against Mark Tessman.

I filed a grievance with the WBA. Then in July 1970, they told us that we'd have to fight
Willis Earls in a WBA Elimination bout, and the winner would get Bob Foster.

Well, Jimmy hadn't fought in 6-Months {since January 20, 1970} when he beat {W Dec 10}
Dich Hall up in Boston. So we took a 'tune-up' bout aginst Eddie Owens on August 6th,
and stopped him {KO 3}.

Then we went down to Houston, Texas > and on August 25th, Jimmy flattened {KO 1}
Willis Earls to maintain our #1 WBA-ranking.

So then we find out Foster is still going through with a challenge of Joe Frazier set for
November 18th. But we still haven't heard a thing about our 'mandatory bout'.

So, I had Jimmy take another 'tune-up' bout on November 10th just to stay sharp, and
he scored an easy {TKO 8} over Elliot Miller in Queens, New York at Sunnyside Gardens.

Since then, I complained '3-Times' to the WBA about not getting a fight contract. This time
they properly 'stripped' Bob Foster for failure to negotiate in good faith.