Bobby Foster vs Joe Calzaghe

[Scott9945]

You are correct...I really only know him from the Ali and Frazier fights. He didnt look "fast" against these Heavyweights so I don tsee how hed look fast against a SMW like Joe.

Ali was way too big and fast for Foster and a peak Frazier was able to walk right through him. Joe was fast, but he wasn't nearly as strong as Ali was. And he obviously didn't hit like Frazier. Foster's problems came from fighting heavyweights. He never even came close to losing a lightheavy fight except for a highly dubious loss to a hometown fighter in Peru. Believe me, I'm not disrespecting Calzaghe by picking Foster to beat him.

[BennyST]

Ali was way too big and fast for Foster and a peak Frazier was able to walk right through him. Joe was fast, but he wasn't nearly as strong as Ali was. And he obviously didn't hit like Frazier. Foster's problems came from fighting heavyweights. He never even came close to losing a lightheavy fight except for a highly dubious loss to a hometown fighter in Peru. Believe me, I'm not disrespecting Calzaghe by picking Foster to beat him.

Mina was actually a very good fighter though and it was very early on in Foster's career. I believe he (Foster) nearly got stopped though. Losing an early career decision to Mina is certainly no mark against him. Mina beat some excellent fighters apart from Foster.

Really though, the only guys Foster lost to were HW's and very good ones at that. He also never really came into the ring as a HW himself and was always much, much smaller than the ones he faced. It would literally be like Calzaghe coming in against a HW, so you can understand why he might struggle eh Joey? Imagine Joe coming in against some of the best heavies of all time with a 30-40 pound weight disadvantage. That's what Foster was doing.

Foster was also most definitely not a lumbering LHW. Great boxing skills, jab, reach and set up his power punches perfectly. He was an incredible fighter. The only thing that would help Calzaghe was that Foster was a little awkward against southpaws and wasn't always able to get off his power shots as fluidly. His jab was a killer though.

I don't know. I don't think foster would KO him. Calzaghe had great heart and chin and his will to win and stay in there was incredible. I think it would be a very close fight that Calzaghe could win through pace, volume and being able to smother Foster's best work. It would be a difficult start though I think as they both adjusted.

I think it would probably end up as Calzaghe getting inside to smother Foster's long jab, and power punches on the outside which would hurt Calzaghe and end up a scrappy mauling sort of inside thing which would be close.

[Jim Jeffries]

Not sure if Calzaghe hits hard enough to get Bob's respect and Joe being a cold starter would be pretty dangerous early. Also Joe relies on reflexes and volume punching for most of his defense, I see his volume going way down in this one after he gets hit a few times. Foster by early KO or a bit more likely, UD.

[DarkTerror88]

Mina was actually a very good fighter though and it was very early on in Foster's career. I believe he (Foster) nearly got stopped though. Losing an early career decision to Mina is certainly no mark against him. Mina beat some excellent fighters apart from Foster.

Really though, the only guys Foster lost to were HW's and very good ones at that. He also never really came into the ring as a HW himself and was always much, much smaller than the ones he faced. It would literally be like Calzaghe coming in against a HW, so you can understand why he might struggle eh Joey? Imagine Joe coming in against some of the best heavies of all time with a 30-40 pound weight disadvantage. That's what Foster was doing.

Foster was also most definitely not a lumbering LHW. Great boxing skills, jab, reach and set up his power punches perfectly. He was an incredible fighter. The only thing that would help Calzaghe was that Foster was a little awkward against southpaws and wasn't always able to get off his power shots as fluidly. His jab was a killer though.

I don't know. I don't think foster would KO him. Calzaghe had great heart and chin and his will to win and stay in there was incredible. I think it would be a very close fight that Calzaghe could win through pace, volume and being able to smother Foster's best work. It would be a difficult start though I think as they both adjusted.

I think it would probably end up as Calzaghe getting inside to smother Foster's long jab, and power punches on the outside which would hurt Calzaghe and end up a scrappy mauling sort of inside thing which would be close.

Hey Benny, Bob kinda sorta reminded me of Tommy Hearns, the way he was tall and lanky and used this to get leverage on his punches. Good boxing skills too.

[BennyST]

Hey Benny, Bob kinda sorta reminded me of Tommy Hearns, the way he was tall and lanky and used this to get leverage on his punches. Good boxing skills too.

Yeah man, he really used his height well. That was one of things that definitely made him a great LHW. That tremendous size of his and actually using it so well in his shots and to set them up.

His jab was so hard too. Like a classic ******* jab. Ouch.

You see it in brilliant use against Finnegan (who was also a southpaw), I think, early on when he just hammers him with it.

[Kid McCoy]

Calzaghe would have been a light-heavy in Foster's era anyway, so I don't see weight as a factor here. I also see this panning out like Foster vs Finnegan, who like Calzaghe was a southpaw with a good chin but lacked power. It wouldn't be a walkover for Foster any more than Finnegan was, but his power is the difference here and I say he wears Calzaghe down for a late KO.

[MickyHatton]

Ive thought about this long and hard and although I was a huge Foster fan I dont see him outscoring JC, not many could.

Foster also has a punchers chance of course but I see a close decision for JC.