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MacArthur "Mac" Foster (June 27, 1942 – July 19, 2010) was a 20th-century American heavyweight professional boxer.
He competed from 1966 to 1976, winning 30 of his 36 professional bouts, with all his victories achieved by knockout. He stopped heavyweight contenders Thad Spencer, Cleveland Williams, whom he defeated twice, and Zora Folley. Foster went the distance against Muhammad Ali in April 1972, losing by a 15-round unanimous decision.
Early life
Foster was born in Alexandria, Virginia,[1] the third of eleven children, of a Mississippi sharecropping family.[2] He spent his childhood years in Fresno, California, where his father found employment as a nurse. Foster picked grapes and cotton as a youth. Fresno State University offered him a track and field scholarship out of Washington High School, but he declined the opportunity, choosing instead to enlist with the United States Marines. Whilst serving with the Marines he won fourteen amateur boxing titles, and was deployed for two combat tours in the Vietnam War.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". After a discharge from the Marines with the rank of sergeant, Foster turned professional, becoming the third Fresno boxer of note (Young Corbett III was a world welterweight champion and Wayne Thornton rose through the rankings to become a number one heavyweight contender in 1970). He trained with Pat DiFuria at the Merced Street Gym.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".[2]
Boxing career
Standing at 6 ft 2" in height and known as "Big Mac The Knife from Fresno", Foster made his professional debut in 1966, winning his first 24 fights by knockout, and was named [[The Ring magazine Progress of the Year|The RingTemplate:'s Progress of the Year]] for 1969. Britain's Boxing Illustrated wrote, "He could certainly whack!"Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Whilst being employed as a sparring partner for Sonny Liston, Foster was reputed to have knocked down the former world champion,[3] causing Liston two days later to work Foster over during another sparring session before handlers could intervene between the two men to stop it.[4]
Big fights
In 1969 Foster knocked out contender Thad Spencer in the first round, and twice knocked out a past his prime Cleveland Williams.
By 1970 Foster was ranked as the world's number one heavyweight contender and seemed set for a title shot, but his 24–0 winning streak came to an end when as favourite he was stopped in six rounds by the more experienced Jerry Quarry in June 1970. After the Quarry fight, Foster knocked out ageing and by then unranked Zora Folley in one round.
Versus Muhammad Ali
In April 1972 Foster faced Muhammad Ali in Tokyo in a rare 15-round, non-title bout. Although he defied Ali's prediction of a fifth-round stoppage by lasting the distance, Foster lost a clear decision to the former champion, winning just two rounds, one round, and no rounds on the three judges' respective scorecards. Foster had never been in a professional fight longer than eight rounds before facing Ali.
Last fights
Foster followed up his loss to Ali with knockouts of journeymen Sam McGill and Charles Williams. He was then outpointed by Bob Stallings, Joe Bugner, and Henry Clark in consecutive bouts.
Foster served as George Foreman's sparring partner for Foreman's world title bout with Ken Norton in 1974. He retired from boxing in 1976 after losing his fourth consecutive decision, this time to prospect Stan Ward. Foster's final record was 30–6, with all 30 of his wins coming by knockout.
Later life
After retiring, Foster volunteered his time as boxing coach for youth.[2]
Death
Foster died at the age of 68 of MRSA on Monday, July 19, 2010. His body was buried at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.
Personal life
He married Yolanda, the marriage producing four children, Gregory, Joshua, Nathaniel and Nicole.
Professional boxing record
| 30 Wins (30 knockouts), 6 Losses (1 knockout, 5 decisions) [5]
|
| Result
|
Record
|
Opponent
|
Type
|
Round
|
Date
|
Location
|
Notes
|
| Loss
|
30–6
|
Template:Flagicon Stan Ward
|
UD
|
10
|
February 26, 1976
|
Template:Flagicon San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California
|
|
| Loss
|
30–5
|
Template:Flagicon Henry Clark
|
UD
|
10
|
May 30, 1974
|
Template:Flagicon Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
|
1–7, 1–7, 3–7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Loss
|
30–4
|
Template:Flagicon Joe Bugner
|
PTS
|
10
|
November 13, 1973
|
Template:Flagicon Empire Pool, Wembley, London
|
96.5–100Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Loss
|
30–3
|
Template:Flagicon Bob Stallings
|
SD
|
10
|
June 30, 1973
|
Template:Flagicon Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
|
|
| Win
|
30–2
|
Template:Flagicon Charles "Hercules" Williams
|
KO
|
10
|
May 3, 1973
|
Template:Flagicon Chicago, Illinois
|
|
| Win
|
29–2
|
Template:Flagicon Sam McGill
|
TKO
|
9
|
April 11, 1973
|
Template:Flagicon Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
|
|
| Loss
|
28–2
|
Template:Flagicon Muhammad Ali
|
UD
|
15
|
April 1, 1972
|
Template:Flagicon Nihon Budokan, Tokyo
|
65–73, 67–75, 66–74Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
28–1
|
Template:Flagicon Giuseppe Ros
|
KO
|
8
|
December 26, 1971
|
Template:Flagicon Hallenstadion, Zurich
|
|
| Win
|
27–1
|
Template:Flagicon Billy Joiner
|
KO
|
5
|
July 29, 1971
|
Template:Flagicon Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
|
|
| Win
|
26–1
|
Template:Flagicon Mike Boswell
|
TKO
|
4
|
March 25, 1971
|
Template:Flagicon Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
|
|
| Win
|
25–1
|
Template:Flagicon Zora Folley
|
KO
|
1
|
September 29, 1970
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
Folley knocked out at 3:04 of the first round.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Loss
|
24–1
|
Template:Flagicon Jerry Quarry
|
KO
|
6
|
June 17, 1970
|
Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City
|
Foster knocked out at 2:05 of the sixth round.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
24–0
|
Template:Flagicon Jack O'Halloran
|
KO
|
1
|
April 9, 1970
|
Template:Flagicon Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
|
|
| Win
|
23–0
|
Template:Flagicon Jimmy Rossette
|
KO
|
4
|
March 24, 1970
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
22–0
|
Template:Flagicon Bob Felstein
|
KO
|
2
|
December 16, 1969
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
21–0
|
Template:Flagicon Cleveland Williams
|
KO
|
3
|
November 18, 1969
|
Template:Flagicon Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas
|
|
| Win
|
20–0
|
Template:Flagicon Cleveland Williams
|
TKO
|
5
|
September 13, 1969
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
Referee stopped the bout at 1:35 of the fifth round.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
19–0
|
Template:Flagicon Roger Russell
|
TKO
|
3
|
August 19, 1969
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
18–0
|
Template:Flagicon Thad Spencer
|
KO
|
1
|
May 20, 1969
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
17–0
|
Template:Flagicon Roger Rischer
|
KO
|
4
|
January 21, 1969
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
16–0
|
Template:Flagicon Joe Hemphill
|
TKO
|
3
|
November 27, 1968
|
Template:Flagicon Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada
|
|
| Win
|
15–0
|
Template:Flagicon Tommy Fields
|
TKO
|
5
|
August 16, 1968
|
Template:Flagicon Centennial Coliseum, Reno, Nevada
|
|
| Win
|
14–0
|
Template:Flagicon Tommy Burns
|
KO
|
1
|
August 8, 1968
|
Template:Flagicon Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington
|
|
| Win
|
13–0
|
Template:Flagicon Curtis Bruce
|
TKO
|
3
|
July 9, 1968
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
12–0
|
Template:Flagicon Sonny Moore
|
KO
|
2
|
April 2, 1968
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
Moore knocked out at 2:50 of the second round.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
11–0
|
Template:Flagicon Steve Grant
|
TKO
|
2
|
February 27, 1968
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
10–0
|
Template:Flagicon Hubert Hilton
|
TKO
|
5
|
January 23, 1968
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
9–0
|
Template:Flagicon Roy Wallace
|
KO
|
7
|
November 28, 1967
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
8–0
|
Template:Flagicon Ray Junior Ellis
|
KO
|
2
|
October 11, 1967
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
|
| Win
|
7–0
|
Template:Flagicon Floyd Joyner
|
TKO
|
7
|
August 29, 1967
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
Joyner down in the sixth and seventh rounds. Foster caught Joyner in a barrage of punches and the referee stopped the bout at 1:45.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
6–0
|
Template:Flagicon Lino Armenteros
|
KO
|
3
|
June 13, 1967
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
Armentiros knocked out at 0:59 of the third round. Armenteros retired after this bout.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
5–0
|
Template:Flagicon Lou Phillips
|
KO
|
3
|
May 9, 1967
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
Phillips knocked out at 1:53 of the first round.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
4–0
|
Template:Flagicon L.J. Wheeler
|
TKO
|
6
|
March 14, 1967
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
Wheeler down in the third round and three times in the sixth.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
3–0
|
Template:Flagicon Sam Wyatt
|
KO
|
1
|
February 6, 1967
|
Template:Flagicon Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|
Wyatt knocked out at 0:13 of the first round. One of the quickest fights in Boxing history.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
2–0
|
Template:Flagicon Leroy Birmingham
|
KO
|
1
|
January 5, 1967
|
Template:Flagicon Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
|
Birmingham knocked out at 2:12 of the first round.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Win
|
1–0
|
Template:Flagicon Jimmy Gilmore
|
KO
|
3
|
November 28, 1966
|
Template:Flagicon Las Vegas, Nevada
|
|
References
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External links