Bob Foster had a very successful amateur career in his native New Mexico. Foster was un-defeated in over 100 amateur bouts and was a member of the 1959 Pan-American Games team. Foster could have went to Rome with the 1960 US Olympic team, however he would have to fill the Middleweight slot as the Light-Heavyweight of choice for the team was a kid from Kentucky named Cassius Clay.
Foster started his pro career in 1961 with a rush, 9 straight wins in places like New York, Toronto, and Washington. However he apparently was moving too fast as his 10th bout ended resulted in a TKO loss to a talented Doug Jones.
The next 5 years saw Foster staying active, traveling a lot and fighting some stiff competition, finally in 1968 his shot at stardom surfaced. Foster responded by stopping the great Dick Tiger in the 4th and winning the WBC and WBA Light-Heavyweight Titles.

Foster’s first title defense was against Frank Depaula and found Foster on the canvas in the first, only to see him send Depaula to the deck three times in the same round, and cause the stoppage.

Three more fine title defenses earned Foster a shot at “The Brass Ring”, un-fortunately the “Ring” was very high, a shot at “Smokin” Joe Frazier for the heavyweight title, alas Foster was to come up short, being stopped in the 2nd by the great Heavyweight. Foster continued his domination of the 175 lb class until 1974, beating such notables as Vincent Paul Rondon, Pierre Fourie, Mike Quarrie, and in the 1972 Fight of the Year, Chris Finnegan. After fighting to a draw with Jorge Ahumada in 1974, Foster announced his retirement . Foster then repeated history by trying an un-successful comeback the following year.

Bob Foster’s career would end in 1978 after consecutive losses to lesser fighters.

Foster’s attempts into the Heavyweight division were disappointing, being stopped by Frazier and Muhammad Ali (NABF Heavyweight title attempt in 1972), however it doesn’t cancel his domination of the Light-Heavyweight division, where he is generally accepted as one of the best ever.

Photos Courtesy of Antiquities of the Prize Ring