November 21, 1972 – Muhammad Ali and Bob Foster throw hands

Muhammad Ali returned to boxing in 1970. Ali had lost over three years of his prime for refusing (on religious grounds) to be drafted into the United States Army.

Ali, still called Cassius Clay by some, met number one contender Jerry Quarry in Atlanta. He looked sharp and moved well. It was audacious, to say the least, to return against Quarry, who sported a record of 37 wins and only four losses.

A slashing right hand had opened a deep cut on Quarry’s left eyelid in round three. The fight was stopped. Quarry needed 15 stitches to close the cut.

Ali next fought tough Oscar Bonavena in New York. He stopped Bonavena in 15 rounds, but looked sluggish.

No matter.

He had signed to fight heavyweight champion Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden on March 8th, 1971.

Ali built up a lead early until Frazier began “smokin.” Frazier staggered Ali in round 11 and floored him near the end of the fight. Frazier won the fight, handing Ali his first loss. Pretty boy Ali showed an inner toughness that many doubted he possessed.

And so, ‘The Second comeback” of Muhammad Ali began four months after his loss to Frazier. Ali stopped his old friend Jimmy Eliis in Houston. The plan was to stay busy.

Ali did, fighting six times in 1972.

His last fight of that year was against reigning light heavyweight champion Bob Foster.

Ali and Foster had sparred earlier in their careers. Foster even knocked Ali down with his Sunday punch, the left hook.

Foster had won the light heavyweight title by dethroning Dick Tiger in 1968.

Before fighting Ali, Foster had made 11 successful defences of his light heavyweight belt. Foster’s kryptonite was the heavyweight division.

He had won 49 of 54 fights, with four of his losses coming against heavyweights.

Foster could beat lower-ranked heavyweight contenders, but not the top guys. He had tried his luck against champion Frazier in 1970. It didn’t go well. Foster slugged it out for one round and found himself on his back in round two. Foster would roll the dice against the much heavier Ali.

Ali outweighed Foster by 41 pounds – he predicted he’d stop the light heavyweight champion in eight rounds. He proved to be prophetic, but it wasn’t easy. His jab was connecting, but so was Foster’s.

Muhammad Ali vs Bob Foster ABC (1972) 1080p 60fps

In round five, one of Foster’s jabs opened a cut over Ali’s left eye. As if annoyed, Ali grew more aggressive after the cut, the first in his 41-fight career. Mere seconds after sustaining the cut, Ali connected with a right hand that floored Foster.

After Foster got up, Ali went for the knockout. He landed several hard shots, but ate some shots from Foster, who went down again from a left. He went down two more times before the round ended.

Ali went back to dancing in round six and punching in the next frame. Foster went down twice in the seventh round. Ali ended matters in the next stanza.

“I wasn’t carrying him,” Ali said. “He didn’t know I was as fast as I was, and I didn’t know he was as good as he was.”

“I didn’t get a chance to hit him with my best punch,” said Foster.

Ali would stay busy, fighting Joe Bugner four months later.

Foster held on to his title for another two years.