Mac Foster
Encyclopedia
MacArthur 'Mac' Foster (June 27, 1942 – July 19, 2010) was an American
heavyweight
boxer
noted for big hitting.
sharecroppers, Foster was a 6' 2" Vietnam War
veteran. Born in [{Alexandria, LA,} 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 light heavyweight contender). Foster trained with Pat DiFuria at the Merced Street Gym.
, 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. Whilst serving as a sparring partner for Sonny Liston
, Foster reportedly knocked out the former world champion. By 1970, he was ranked as the world's number one heavyweight contender and seemed destined for at least a title shot, but his 24-0 winning streak would come to an end when he was stopped in six rounds by Jerry Quarry
in June 1970.
After the Quarry fight, Foster knocked out ageing but well rated Zora Folley
in just one round. Foster lost on decision after a dull match to Muhammad Ali
in 1972. It seemed to set a trend. Bob Stallings, Joe Bugner
and Henry Clark a year later also outpointed him.
He served as George Foreman
's sparring partner for Foreman's bout with Ken Norton
in 1974. He retired from boxing in 1976 after losing his fourth consecutive decision to Stan Ward. Foster's final record was 30-6, with all 30 of his wins coming by knockout.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
noted for big hitting.
Early life
The son of MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
sharecroppers, Foster was a 6' 2" Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran. Born in [{Alexandria, LA,} he grew up in Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 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
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
boxer of note (Young Corbett III
Young Corbett III
Young Corbett III was the world Welterweight boxing champion. He was born Raffaele Capabianca Giordano and began boxing in 1919 as Young Corbett III while still a 14-year-old "newsboy."...
was a world welterweight champion and Wayne Thornton rose through the rankings to become a number one light heavyweight contender). Foster trained with Pat DiFuria at the Merced Street Gym.
Boxing career
Known as Big Mac 'The Knife' from FresnoFresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, Foster made his professional debut in 1966, winning his first 24 fights by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
, and was named Ring Magazine progress of the year
Ring Magazine progress of the year
Ring Magazine was established in 1922. From 1953 to 1988, it gave a Progress of the Year award to the boxer who made the most significant progress during the preceding twelve months...
for 1969. Whilst serving as a sparring partner for Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
, Foster reportedly knocked out the former world champion. By 1970, he was ranked as the world's number one heavyweight contender and seemed destined for at least a title shot, but his 24-0 winning streak would come to an end when he was stopped in six rounds by Jerry Quarry
Jerry Quarry
Jerry Quarry , nicknamed "Irish" or “The Bellflower Bomber,” was an Irish-American heavyweight boxer. Quarry was rated by Ring Magazine as the most popular fighter in the sport, 1968–1971, and was one of the biggest stars of arguably the greatest era in the history of the heavyweight division.-...
in June 1970.
After the Quarry fight, Foster knocked out ageing but well rated Zora Folley
Zora Folley
Zora Folley was an American heavyweight boxer. He was well skilled with a good defence and also a punch to go with it....
in just one round. Foster lost on decision after a dull match to Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
in 1972. It seemed to set a trend. Bob Stallings, Joe Bugner
Joe Bugner
József Kreul "Joe" Bugner is a Hungarian-born British-Australian former top heavyweight boxer. He holds triple nationality, being a citizen of Hungary and a naturalized citizen of both Australia and the United Kingdom where he learned to box and spent his peak years.Born in Szőreg, a southeastern...
and Henry Clark a year later also outpointed him.
He served as George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
's sparring partner for Foreman's bout with Ken Norton
Ken Norton
Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. is a former heavyweight boxer. He is best known for his 12-round victory over a peak Muhammad Ali where he famously broke Ali's jaw, on March 31, 1973, becoming only the second man to defeat Ali as a professional .He and Ali...
in 1974. He retired from boxing in 1976 after losing his fourth consecutive decision to Stan Ward. Foster's final record was 30-6, with all 30 of his wins coming by knockout.