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

[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

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

Round 6
Muhammad continued with numerous pecking left-jabs. Mac had no answer, as he was too slow
to counter.

Neither fighter showed any damage. Mac had a slight redness around the eyes, but nothing significant.

Round 7
Mac finally turned aggressor, and landed with several 'piston-like' one-two's to Muhammad's mid-section,
as Ali laid back on the Ropes and let Mac hit him, in hopes of letting Mac tiring himself out.

Mac also landed a snappy left-hook to Muhammad's mouth and a looping right-hand to the head.

But Mac was throwing mostly arm-punches, and wasn't get his body behind his punches.

Round 8
It was a relatively 'even' Round for the first 2-Minutes. Muhammad was doing nothing but
circling-and-moving 'clockwise' {to his left} and took advantage of the 20' x 20' Ring.

But Mac did little-to-nothing as well, other than move forward and bore in.

Late in the Round, Muhammad opened up with a few scoring left-jabs, and added a light
assortment of punches near the end of the session to 'steal' the Round.

Muhammad looked a bit frustrated, as he had more-or-less given up on trying to score a Knockout.

* Note: Prior to this bout, Mac Foster had 'never' gone past 8-Rounds in his {5+ Year} career of '30-Bouts'.

Round 9
Mac came out passively. Muhammad took advantage of Mac's lackadaisical approach, and scored
with easy left-jabs to Mac's face, and an occasional 'one-two'.

Mac did nothing, other than to bore in with a high-guard, and throw an occasional light arm-punch.

Muhammad scored with left-jabs at will, and had Mac befuddled at the {2:00 Mark}.

Muhammad had an easy Round, as Mac was content to just follow Muhammad aroundthe Ring.

Round 10

Before the Round {Ralph Gambina; Mac Foster's Trainer} told his fighter that he needed to step it up,
and to take the fight to Muhammad.

Muhammad came out withmore left-jabs, and movement.

Mac, realizing he was behind on points made a more aggressive attack at the {0:30 Mark}, and early in the
Round he scored with a sharp left-hook and counter right-hand to Muhammad's face.

Mac drove Muhammad to the Ropes, where he scored with 'medium-power' left-rights inside.

Muhammad looked a bit tired for the 1st-time in the bout, and laid back on the Ropes as Mac took the initiative
during the middle-of-the-session, and mauled Muhammad while he kept him on the Ropes.

Mac landed a 'solid' right-hand counter over Muhammad's low left-hand. The punch landed on Muhammad's
left cheek, and forced him backwards. The crowd roared, and thought that the 'flow-of-the-fight' might change
as Muhammad went back into the Ropes.

Mac had gotten some momentum, and carried the fight to Muhammad until the {2:30 Mark}. Muhammad then
made a brief rally, but looked a bit tired at the {2:43 Mark}.

Mac then scored with a nice left-hook to the head at the {2:45 Mark}.

Muhammad then re-grouped, and came back with a sharp 6-Punch flurry, including landing a solid chopping right-hand
thru Mac's guard and into his jaw at the {2:58 Mark}. Mac then dipped to his right, and Muhammad came up with a
left uppercut-hook to the right side of Mac's forehead just at the Bell.

Mac wobbled on shaky-pins back to his corner at the end of the Round.

Scorecard

Rounds................ 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10
Muhammad Ali....... 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 4
Mac Foster............. 4 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 5

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

After Round 10, Muhammad came back to his corner and sat down, and said that he thought he had Mac 'ready-to-go'.

Angelo Dundee told Muhammad that Mac Foster looked tired at the end of Round 10, and had nothing left in the 'tank'.
He instructed Muhammad to work left-jabs over the first-minute of Round 11 to set Mac up, and then to 'open-it-up with something hard.

In Mac Foster's corner, they told their fighter to get inside and close, and to use the left uppercut to Muhammad's chin,
and short right-hands to the mid-section.

Mac was sporting slight puffiness over the left-eye, but otherwise he was in good condition.

Round 11
Muhammad came out fast, and started by snapping numerous left-jabs on Mac's face. Mac had no answer for the rapid-fire
punches, and could only use awkward movement to avoid the incoming jabs.

From the corner, Bundini Brown yelled > "Left Jabs, Left Jabs."

Muhammad peppered away with a dizzy display of left jabs, and by the {0:45 Mark} Muhammad had Mac completely befuddled.

Muhammad then switched up to a 'two-fisted' flurry, and scored with a fast 5-Punch barrage, followed by a solid 'right-left' to the
face that appeared to slightly stun Mac who bent low.

Muhammad then landed a particular hard right-cross to Mac's left cheek, which caused Mac to back up to the Ropes. Then
Muhammad flailed away with fast punches, and an assortment of flurries, including some uppercuts.

Mac then bobbed-and-weaved to avoid the onslaught, but he looked groggy and wobbled briefly at the {1:00 Mark}.

After the exchange, Mac suffered a minor abrasion on his forehead, and the puffiness over his left eye increased.

Mac cleared the cob-webs from his head, and tried to fight back with weak left-hands. Muhammad backed off a bit, and
went to light 'left-right' one-two combinations.

From the corner, Bundini Brown yelled> "Heavy Bag, just work him like a Heavy Bag."

It was Muhammad Ali's 'best' Round of the bout, and he was worthy of a 2-Point {5-3} 11th Round.

Round 12
Muhammad came out, and again worked with repeated left-jabs.

Mac went back to his plodding, but did not fire back.

As Muhammad slowed the pace, his cornerman {Bundini Brown} kept yelling "Work Champ, Work Champ."

Muhammad circled to his left {clockwise}, and again had an easy time by scoring with more jabs. Muhammad
did not fear any of Mac's punches, and stayed just out of range for a counter-punch.

At the {1:30 Mark}, Mac made a brief rally and scored with a few decent left-right punches over the next 30-Seconds.

But both fighters looked a bit weary at the {2:10 Mark}, as their punches lacked steam.

Muhammad opened up with a 'light' volley of lefts-and-rights over the last 30-Seconds to take the Round as Cornerman
Bundini Brown yelled > "Jab, jab and box him."

At the Bell, Mac walked briskly back to his corner showing no signs of weariness.

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

Round 10

http://www.ligadeboxe.com.br/novo/li...ann_Corbis.jpg

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

Round 13
Muhammad goes back to his 'standard' of circling to his left {clockwise} and flicking out
left-jabs in bunches.

Mac continues to stalk, but is not throwing anything.

The bout is at Center-Ring, as Muhammad continues to easily out-box Mac by making him
eat left-hands over the first 35-Seconds.

Mac scores with a solid left-hook counter to Muhammad's face at the {0:38 Mark}, sending
Muhammad back-pedaling.

Bundini Brown yells to Muhammad > "Box him, box him."

Muhammad jabs while Mac stalks. The bout looks like a 'glorified' sparring session as neither
fighter is setting down on their punches.

Mac lands '3' crisp left-hands at the {1:00 Mark}, but there is little snap behind the punches.

Muhammad circles and jabs, and throws several one-two punches during the middle-session of
the Round. The punches are landing, but they are not forceful.

Mac continues to stalk, and lands a good chopping right-hand to Muhammad's chin at the {1:58 Mark}.

Muhammad counters with a left-right, and adds in more left-jabs.

Bundini Brown yells to Muhammad > "Stick him, stick him with the right like Houdini. Use him like the
Heavy Bag."

At the {2:48 Mark}, Mac makes a rush and lands a left-right-left as he drives Muhammad into the front-center
Ropes. Mac scores with a good right to the body at the {2:53 Mark}, and adds in a left-right as Muhammad covers up.

Ralph Gambina yells to Mac > "Get on him, get on him."

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

At the end of Round 13

Muhammad Ali was breathing heavy, and looked tired. Mac Foster appeared fine, but
was sporting light puffiness on both eyebrows.

It was evident to all, that the only way Mac Foster could win was by a Knockout.

Round 14
Muhammad again came out by firing left-jabs, as Mac gamely plodded forward.

Muhammad landed an assortment of left-hands over the first 35-Seconds, before Mac attacked
with several pawing punches at the {0:45 Mark}.

Muhammad picked up the pace at the {0:55 Mark}, and scored with several light one-two punches
to keep Mac at bay. Muhammad scored with several good left jabs at the {1:20 Mark}.

Mac came on at the {1:28 Mark}, and landed a nice 'left-right-left' to drive Muhammad into the
back left-center Ropes.

Mac's corner yelled > "Keep it up Mac, keep it up."

Muhammad circled out off the Ropes at the {1:40 Mark}, and moved to Center-Ring while
firing out repeated light left-jabs at Mac's face.

Both fighters looked tired a the {2:00 Mark}.

Muhammad landed a decent left uppercut at the {2:14 Mark}, which forced Mac to back up to the
back-left Neutral-Corner.

Muhammad then flailed away with a half-dozen punches.

Bundini Brown yelled from the corner > "Uppercut Ali, uppercut."

Mac started to look groggy at the {2:39 Mark}, while backed up against the Ropes.

Mac rode out the minor storm until the Bell, and returned to his corner with a puffy right eye-brow.

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

At the end of Round14. Muhammad Ali was breathing very heavy in his corner, but was unmarked
other than minor puffiness high on the right cheek.

Mac Foster had a puffy right eye-lid, and slightly puffy left eye-brow, but was not hurt.

Round 15

Both fighters meet at Center-Ring and touch gloves.

Muhammad immediately goes to circling to his left {clockwise} and fires out long range left-jabs
into Mac's face.

Mac stalks, and looks to unload. At the {0:22 Mark}, Mac lands a sharp left-right to Muhammad's
head.

Muhammad starts to bounce on his toes, and moves easily as he circles and pecks away with
snappy left jabs.

Mac lands with a slapping left-hand to Muhammad's face at the {0:57 Mark}.

Muhammad lands several left-right {one-two's}, as Mac keeps a high-guard while waiting to counter.

Mac lands '3' light right-hands as he backs Muhammad up at the {1:21 Mark}.

Muhammad gets on his bicycle, and circles and jabs, as Mac slowly plods.

Muhammad continues to land light but scoring left-jabs over the middle-session of the Round.

Mac is now doing nothing much, and is content to take punches and press forward and throw an occasional
counter-punch.

Muhammad opens up some at the {2:10 Mark}. and fires away backing Mac up near Muhammad's corner.
Muhammad flurries for 15-Seconds in an attempt to floor Mac, but the punches lack any power.

Mac again rides out the brief flurry, and easily makes it until the Final Bell.

At the Bell, Mac touches Muhammad and tells him > "You never hurt me Punk. Did you hear me,
it's the 15th Round, and I'm still standing."

Muhammad does not acknowledge Mac, and tries to look away.

Mac walks across the Ring, and back to his corner.

After a few moments, Muhammad walks across the Ring to offer his compliments to Mac Foster's
cornermen {Ralpg Gambina and George Stassi}. Muhammad says > "Good job, it was a fair fight."

[Bill Paxtom]

Muhammad Ali vs. Mac Foster

'Muhammad Ali Outclasses Mac Foster Over 15-Rounds in Tokyo'

Scorecards

* Referee - John Crowder....... 73-65 = {10-2-3 in Rounds}
Rounds for Muhammad Ali........ 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15
Rounds for Mac Foster.............. 2 and 10
Even Rounds............................ 7, 8 and 13

* Judge - Hiroyuki Teraki...... 74-65 = {10-1-4 in Rounds}
Rounds for Muhammad Ali......... 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15
Rounds for Mac Foster............... 7
Even Rounds............................. 2, 8, 10 and 13

* Judge - Takeo Ugo............ 75-67 = {8-0-7 in Rounds}
Rounds for Muhammad Ali......... 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 14
Rounds for Mac Foster.............. None
Even Rounds............................ 2, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 15

* UPI.................................. 74-64 = {11-1-3 in Rounds}
Rounds for Muhammad Ali........ 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15
Rounds for Mac Foster.............. 7
Even Rounds............................ 2, 8 and 10

[Bill Paxtom]

After Bout Comments

Muhammad Ali

"We were both talking loud before the fight. I said Tokyo was not big enough for '2' big mouths, so I said I would Knock him out."

"I predicted a 5th Round Knockout. So I set him up in Round 4, and shook him up. But in Round 5 he was too smart to get caught."

"After Round 6, I figured I would let him get some confidence, so I let him take the 7th Round and all of the early part of Round 8.
I wanted him to get tired, before coming on in Round 9."

"He fought well in Round 10, but I caught him with a good right to the jaw and a left hook to the temple at the bell. He wobbled
back to his corner, and I knew I had him."

"I tried to finish him in Round 11, but he was awkward and took a good punch. After the 11th Round, I just gave up on trying to
score a Knockout."

"He fought pretty good, and he was tougher than I expected. He's strong, but slow. I'm sure that I'll see him again, maybe next
year {1973}. I'll take him on again, after I have my Title back."