Boxer fought Frazier, Ali
BOB FOSTER, 1938 - 2015
Bob Foster, a former light heavyweight champion who fought Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali and went on to become a sheriff ’s deputy in Bernalillo County, N.M., died Saturday. He was 77.
New Mexico state Rep. Antonio Maestas confirmed his death at an Albuquerque hospital.
Standing 6 feet 3, the big-punching Foster was 56-8-1 with 46 knockouts. He won the light heavyweight title in 1968 when he stopped Dick Tiger in the fourth round of their fight at Madison Square Garden. It was the only time Tiger was knocked out in his career.
Two years later, Foster moved up to heavyweight to challenge Frazier for the title. The fight was a mismatch, with Frazier stopping Foster at 49 seconds of the second round.
Foster regained his 175-pound title in his next fight, but in 1972 fought again as a heavyweight, meeting Ali at a Lake Tahoe casino. Again, Foster was overmatched, with Ali knocking him down seven times before the fight was stopped in the eighth round.
Foster, who was named the thirdgreatest light heavyweight ever by Ring magazine in 1994, made 14 successful title defenses before retiring as champion in 1974. He returned a year later, retiring for good in 1978.
Foster was the Boxing Writers Assn. of America’s fighter of the year in 1968. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s first class in 1990.
While still boxing, Foster began his law enforcement career.
Foster was born in Borger, Texas, on April 27, 1938, grew up in Albuquerque and played football at Albuquerque High. He served in the Air Force.