Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad came in at 226 lbs., which was his heaviest weight ever. He did not look fat, but he looked big.

Mac came in at 211 3/4 lbs., and looked fit with his muscular frame.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 1
Muhammad, surprisingly fought as the aggressor in the opening Round, as he came right after Mac, forcing him
to back and circle. Muhammad scored well with numerous left-jabs, and put pressure on Mac who looked to
block and play defense.

Round 2
Mac had a strong rally in Round 2, and he pounded away with repeated right-hands to Muhammad's kidney area.
He also bloodied Muhammad's nose with a left-hand while inside.

Muhammad rallied back at the {2:15 Mark} of Round 2, and shook Mac with a 'left-right' to the forehead.

Round 3
Mac came out with little aggression in Round 3, and he et Muhammad take command. Muhammad kept pumping
in steady left-jabs to Mac's face.

Muhammad put on the pressure, and kept scoring with repeated left-jabs. Mac had no answer, as he was too slow to counter.

In between Rounds 3 and 4, Muhammad 'clowned' as usual.

Round 4
Muhammad kept up with steady left-jabs and an occasional right-hand. Mac continued to plod, but offered up nothing
in any offense.

Late in the Round, Muhammad landed a 5-Punch flurry, that had Mac a bit groggy. But Mac bobbed and weaved, and rode out the
flurry over the last 25-Seconds by using a tight guard and a bob-and-weave defense.

Between Rounds, Muhammad again 'clowned' by grabbing the 'Round 5' Ring Card from the Round-Walker, and telling the Budokan
Arena crowd of 15,000 that > "This is the Round that Mac goes down."

Round 5
Muhammad tried to force his will over Mac, and make good on his prediction of a 5th Round Knockout.

Muhammad scored with repeated left-jabs, and an occasional right-cross. On the other side, Mac did little other than follow and wait,
and throw an occasional light punch behind a tight-guard.

After Round 5 > the Japanese spectators boo'ed Muhammad Ali.

Thru 5-Rounds;
> Muhammad was fighting a steady and solid, but unspectacular fight.
> Mac was good technically, but he was waiting too long to attack or counter.

Scorecard

Rounds.............. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
Muhammad Ali.... 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5
Mac Foster.......... 4 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 4