Mac Foster

Mac Foster
Statistics
Real name	MacArthur Foster
Nickname(s)	Big Mac 'The Knife' from Fresno
Height	6' 2"
Nationality	American
Born	(1942-06-27)June 27, 1942 Alexandria, VA, United States
Died	July 19, 2010(2010-07-19) (aged 68) Fresno, CA, United States
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	36
Wins	30
Wins by KO	30
Losses	6

MacArthur "Mac" Foster (June 27, 1942 – July 19, 2010) was an American heavyweight boxer noted for big hitting. He was a one time no 1 contender and fought several big names, among them Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry.

Early life

The son of Mississippi sharecroppers, Foster was a 6' 2" Vietnam War veteran.^[1] Born in [{Alexandria, LA,}^[2] he grew up in Fresno, California, the third of eleven children. His father was a nurse. Foster picked grapes and cotton as a youth. Fresno State University offered Foster a track and field scholarship out of Washington High School, but he volunteered for the United States Marines instead. In the service, Foster won fourteen amateur boxing titles. After a military discharge, Foster turned pro, becoming the third Fresno boxer of note (Young Corbett III was a world welterweight champion and Wayne Thornton rose through the rankings to become a number one heavyweight contender in 1970. Foster trained with Pat DiFuria at the Merced Street Gym.^[1]

Boxing career

Known as Big Mac 'The Knife' from Fresno, Foster made his professional debut in 1966, winning his first 24 fights by knockout, and was named Ring Magazine progress of the year for 1969. As Britain's Boxing Illustrated magazine put it 'He could certainly whack!'.^{[citation needed]}

Whilst serving as a sparring partner for Sonny Liston, Foster reportedly knocked out the former world champion.^[3]

By 1970, Foster was ranked as the world's number one heavyweight contender and seemed set for a title shot, but his 24-0 winning streak came to an end when as favourite he was stopped in six rounds by the more experienced Jerry Quarry in June 1970. After the Quarry fight, Foster knocked out ageing but well rated Zora Folley in one round.

In April 1972 Foster faced Muhammad Ali in Tokyo. Although he scuppered Ali's prediction of a fifth round stoppage by lasting the distance, Foster lost a clear decision to the former champion. But Foster was cheered for his spirited attempt.

Foster followed up his loss to Ali with knockouts of journeymen Sam McGill and Charles Williams. He was then outpointed by Bob Stallings, Joe Bugner and Henry Clark in consecutive bouts.

Foster served as George Foreman's sparring partner for Foreman's world title bout with Ken Norton in 1974. He retired from boxing in 1976 after losing his fourth consecutive decision, this time to prospect Stan Ward. Foster's final record was 30-6, with all 30 of his wins coming by knockout.

After retirement

After retiring, Foster volunteered his time as boxing coach for youth.^[1]

Death

Foster died of MRSA on Monday, July 19, 2010. He was 68. Foster was survived by his wife Yolanda and their four children, Gregory, Joshua, Nathaniel and Nicole.

Professional boxing record

30 Wins (30 knockouts), 6 Losses (1 knockout, 5 decisions)
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	4-0-2	Stan Ward	UD	10	26/02/1976	San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	29-8-3	Henry Clark	UD	10	30/05/1974	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California	1-7, 1-7, 3-7.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	44-6-1	Joe Bugner	PTS	10	13/11/1973	Empire Pool, Wembley, London	96.5-100.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	16-25	Bob Stallings	SD	10	30/06/1973	Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9-5-1	Charles "Hercules" Williams	KO	10	03/05/1973	Chicago, Illinois
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12-3-1	Sam McGill	TKO	9	11/04/1973	Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois	Referee stopped the bout at 1:38 of the ninth round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	34-1	Muhammad Ali	UD	15	01/04/1972	Nihon Budokan, Tokyo	65-73, 67-75, 66-74.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30-7	Giuseppe Ros	KO	8	26/12/1971	Hallenstadion, Zurich
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10-8-3	Billy Joiner	KO	5	29/07/1971	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California	Joiner knocked out at 2:55 of the fifth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13-0	Mike Boswell	TKO	4	25/03/1971	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California	Referee stopped the bout at 2:25 of the fourth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	79-10-6	Zora Folley	KO	1	29/09/1970	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Folley knocked out at 3:04 of the first round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	35-4-4	Jerry Quarry	KO	6	17/06/1970	Madison Square Garden, New York City	Foster knocked out at 2:05 of the sixth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18-6-2	Jack O'Halloran	KO	1	09/04/1970	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California	Jack knocked out at 2:58 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-7	Jimmy Rossette	KO	4	24/03/1970	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Jimmy knocked out at 1:30 of the fourth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14-8-1	Bob Felstein	KO	2	16/12/1969	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Bob knocked out at 3:05 of the second round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	71-9-1	Cleveland Williams	KO	3	18/11/1969	Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	71-8-1	Cleveland Williams	TKO	5	13/09/1969	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Referee stopped the bout at 1:35 of the fifth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11-5-2	Roger Russell	TKO	3	19/08/1969	Selland Arena, Fresno, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32-8	Thad Spencer	KO	1	20/05/1969	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Spencer knocked out at 3:09 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29-12-2	Roger Rischer	KO	4	21/01/1969	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Rischer knocked out at 2:44 of the fourth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17-3-1	Joe Hemphill	TKO	3	27/11/1968	Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17-14-3	Tommy Fields	TKO	5	16/08/1968	Centennial Coliseum, Reno, Nevada	Referee stopped the bout at 1:23 of the fifth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7-2	Tommy Burns	KO	1	08/08/1968	Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington	Burns knocked out at 1:30 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28-20-1	Curtis Bruce	TKO	3	09/07/1968	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Referee stopped the bout at 2:35 of the third round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20-26-2	Sonny Moore	KO	2	02/04/1968	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Moore knocked out at 2:50 of the second round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10-3	Steve Grant	TKO	2	27/02/1968	Selland Arena, Fresno, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17-7-2	Hubert Hilton	TKO	5	23/01/1968	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the fifth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5-2-1	Roy Wallace	KO	7	28/11/1967	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Wallace knocked out at 1:25 of the seventh round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-5	Ray Junior Ellis	KO	2	11/10/1967	Selland Arena, Fresno, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22-14-3	Floyd Joyner	TKO	7	29/08/1967	Selland Arena, Fresno, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27-24-7	Lino Armenteros	KO	3	13/06/1967	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Lino knocked out at 1:45 of the third round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-2	Lou Phillips	KO	3	09/05/1967	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Phillips knocked out at 1:54 of the third round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-3-1	L.J. Wheeler	TKO	6	14/03/1967	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Referee stopped the bout at 2:34 of the sixth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-4-2	Sam Wyatt	KO	1	06/02/1967	Selland Arena, Fresno, California	Wyatt knocked out at 1:37 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-3-1	Leroy Birmingham	KO	1	05/01/1967	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0-1	Jimmy Gilmore	KO	3	28/11/1966	Las Vegas, Nevada

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Mac Foster from BoxRec