9. Bob Foster 56-8, 46 KOs
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Originally hailing from Borger, Texas Bob Foster first punched for pay in March of 1961with a knockout of Duke Williams in 2 rounds. Apparently everything truly is bigger in Texas as Foster boasted a freakishly tall Light Heavyweight frame of 6’3 and carried dynamite laden fists with him when he slid between the ropes.
Foster is widely accepted as one of the greatest Light Heavyweight champions to lace a pair of gloves. He won the title with a one punch knockout of very well-respected Dick Tiger in 1968. So devastating was the shot that Tiger hit the canvas flat on his back with a crushing impact that left an impression on all in attendance if not the ring floor itself. Foster went on to successfully defend his title 14 times, a record at that time.
Foster won the vast majority of his 175 pound bouts with similar conviction but had far different results in his multiple attempts to bring that stopping power to Heavyweight during the Golden Age of the division. In his two most famous attempts he was stopped by both Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.
Foster retired in 1978 and became a detective with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department and was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015.
Suggested viewing: Bob Foster’s crushing, title winning knockout of Dick Tiger in 1968.
