Bob Fosters LHW Reign Vs Bernard Hopkins MW Reign. Overrated?

[Scott9945]

Bob started and ended his career at heavyweight, and frequented the division throughout his career.. Sure, he was able to make 175, but I think it's fair to say, he'd have been heavier when he stepped into the ring.. Fought at around 201 as a hw, which was probably lower than his 'walking about' weight..

Foster never even weighed 190 for a fight. At the end of his career he was fighting in the 180's, but that was because they were non title fights.

[Humean]

The question I'm asking isn't who's reign was better. More to state how similar they are.

I often to see Bob Foster ranked amongst the Top 5 LHW's. Often considered common knowledge to some.

But how good is his reign? Certainly overrated IMO.

Much like Hopkins reign, Foster's fought pretty much every contender during the late 60's and early 70's. Beat a long list of solid, good, top ranked contenders in what was a relatively weak era for LHW's.

His best win likely being the ATG MW, **** Tiger, who whilst very good and a legit LHW and the Champion there, was small for the weight class.

Similar again to Hopkins, with his best win coming over Felix Trinidad moving up from WW to become considered the best MW in the world by most.

As you can see, very similar reigns yet Hopkins usually get's ranked in the lower half of the Top 10 at MW (I have him at #10) yet Foster get's ranked Top 5 minimum usually.

When there's fighters like Harold Johnson who IMO has a much superior resume and much superior skills who on pretty much every list I see is ranked beneath him.

What do you think? Bob Foster's reign overrated?

As you know I don't value resume on its own as highly as you and others do but if I did i'd defintiely agree with this, there is defintiely similarities between Foster's reign and Hopkins' and yet Foster does get rated higher than Hopkins. I think there are three plausible, and not mutually exclusive, reasons for it:

1: 'Historians' simply think Foster was a better fighter p4p than Hopkins
2: 'Historians' think Foster was a greater light heavyweight than Hopkins was a great middleweight because the middleweight division is deeper historically than the light-heavyweight division
3: 'Historians' prefer the fighters from the past over newer ones, especially when there is personal nostalgia attached to it.


As for the side topic about the relative depth in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions i'd say that the middleweight division is quite significantly deeper. The light-heavyweight division has had some really poor eras and Foster's is a great example of that, in fact in my opinion there has only been one great light heavyweight era which was the end of the 70s to the early 80s.

In terms of ability I think Foster is overrated also. Isn't he a fairly classic case of people being dazzled by raw power?

[Scott9945]

In terms of ability I think Foster is overrated also. Isn't he a fairly classic case of people being dazzled by raw power?

Foster was an excellent boxer, and much more than a pure power guy. The only time I saw him outboxed was by Ali, and Ali's natural size advantage had plenty to do with that.

[joseph5620]

Foster was an excellent boxer, and much more than a pure power guy. The only time I saw him outboxed was by Ali, and Ali's natural size advantage had plenty to do with that.

From what I can see on video, Foster could win a fight with his jab alone. I don't understand the interpretation of him as just a puncher.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Foster was an excellent boxer, and much more than a pure power guy. The only time I saw him outboxed was by Ali, and Ali's natural size advantage had plenty to do with that.

I slightly disagree,, I think foster was a good boxer, no doubt,, but to say he was excellent, im not sure about that,,,

Who was the best boxer that he ever outboxed,,and not overpowered

If he you took away his power, he would be hard pressed to be nearly as succcessful..

How do you think he matches up with the guys that came right behind him at lhw like mustafa, spinks etc

[mickey malone]

Foster never even weighed 190 for a fight. At the end of his career he was fighting in the 180's, but that was because they were non title fights.

My mistake.. It appears boxrec don't display what the fighters weighed in at anymore.. Looked at his early career, saw 201 vs Doug Jones, but that's the figure for box pre and box aft, whatever they are?.. Won't make that mistake again, thanks for waking me up!

[joseph5620]

I slightly disagree,, I think foster was a good boxer, no doubt,, but to say he was excellent, im not sure about that,,,

Who was the best boxer that he ever outboxed,,and not overpowered

If he you took away his power, he would be hard pressed to be nearly as succcessful..

How do you think he matches up with the guys that came right behind him at lhw like mustafa, spinks etc

If you take away something from any fighter they are not going to be as successful. That apply's to all fighters. I don't understand that logic. You can't penalize a fighters boxing skills just because he's knocking his opponents out. Obviously Foster was setting up these punches by boxing. It's not like he was running in with wild punches and no boxing skills.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

If you take away something from any fighter they are not going to be as successful. That apply's to all fighters. I don't understand that logic. You can't penalize a fighters boxing skills just because he's knocking his opponents out. Obviously Foster was setting up these punches by boxing. It's not like he was running in with wild punches and no boxing skills.

True,, i was just disagreeing that he was an EXCELLENT boxer,, when i think he is more in line with a lennox lewis, or wlad,,, Guys that had skills and could box, but arent considered EXCELLENT

Who was the most skilled boxer he outboxed and not overpowered???

[joseph5620]

True,, i was just disagreeing that he was an EXCELLENT boxer,, when i think he is more in line with a lennox lewis, or wlad,,, Guys that had skills and could box, but arent considered EXCELLENT

Who was the most skilled boxer he outboxed and not overpowered???

From what I've seen of his fights at light heavyweight he outboxed opponents fought before knocking them out. The best? I would assume **** Tiger or Vincente Rondon. Maybe someone around during that era can verify.


You say "overpowered" but I see him boxing and setting up power shots.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

From what I've seen of his fights at light heavyweight he outboxed opponents fought before knocking them out. The best? I would assume **** Tiger or Vincente Rondon. Maybe someone around during that era can verify.


You say "overpowered" but I see him boxing and setting up power shots.

your right, he did setup his shots,, Im just nitpicking about the excellent part, and excellent boxer would be like floyd, or pernel

I think foster is good just not excellent in the sweet science..

**** tiger probably the best he fought, but tiger was more of a mw that moved up much like hopkins