52 fight challenge: Week 6 - Chris Finnegan vs Bob Foster

[Horse]

Chris Finnegan vs Bob Foster:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFpQaBAMb2I

Watch and discuss.

[Horse]

Recent weeks' fights:

Week 5 - John H. Stracey vs Jose Napoles: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197741
Week 4 - Jim Watt vs Alexis Arguello: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197596
Week 3 - Lloyd Honeyghan vs Donald Curry: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197431
Week 2 - Chris Eubank vs Michael Watson I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197276
Week 1 - Joe Calzaghe vs Robin Reid: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197126


British & Irish boxing 52 fight history knowledge challenge thread: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197079

[Horse]

Finnegan - Foster

9 - 10
10 - 9
9 - 10
9 - 10
10 - 9
10 - 9
10 - 9
9 - 10
10 - 9
8 - 10
9 - 10
10 - 10
9 - 10
- - - KO

122-125 Foster


Close fight before the knockdown, but then Foster pulled away.

[garethhop]

Just watched that this evening.

What a fight. Had Finnegan ahead after 7 but didn't give him another round after that although he was always in the fight.

Mad to think that both fought again within 4-8 weeks of that fight.

Look forward to next weeks treaty

[Counter-puncher]

I'll have to rewatch this, my memory had it being pretty boring and onesided but you chaps make it sound much closer.

[davie]

I'll have to rewatch this, my memory had it being pretty boring and onesided but you chaps make it sound much closer.

I've yet to watch it. Will certainly get to it during the week.

I had picked it because it was fight of the year, so I'm guessing it has some decent action.
Really wanted an excuse to watch a bit more of Bob Foster, who was a bit of a monster.

[davie]

So far I have it 8 rounds down.
77-76

1. Draw
2. Finnegan
3. Finnegan - very close round
4. Foster
5. Finnegan - Ate some big shots but did enough to take the round. Suspect they were starting to effect him by now though
6. Foster
7. Finnegan
8. Foster


TBC....

[davie]

So far I have it 8 rounds down.
77-76

1. Draw
2. Finnegan
3. Finnegan - very close round
4. Foster
5. Finnegan - Ate some big shots but did enough to take the round. Suspect they were starting to effect him by now though
6. Foster
7. Finnegan
8. Foster


TBC....

9. Finnegan
10. Foster KD - 10-8. Finnegan was brave trying to get back into it after the KD
11. Foster
12. Foster
13. Foster
14. KO

A good fight but I struggle to see how it made fight of the year. I would be astounded if there wasn't a better fight in 1972.

I gave the last 5 rounds to Foster as he seemed in control but plaudits have to go to Finnegan for bravery for keeping on plugging away after clearly being hurt and being in against as destructive a fighter as Foster.
I did think there were a few things Finnegan could have done late in the fight (but i'm not going to be too critical, most of us aren't tactical geniuses after getting flattened).
I noticed Foster tried to get more on his toes in the last 5 rounds, but his footward was hardly the slickest, (he's quite bouncy is probably the best way to describe it) he also stood almost completely side on. I felt if Finnegan got his movement right, using more lateral movement to force Foster to turn, found angles and swung hooks, he might have been able to unbalance Foster.
I also noticed Fosters upperbody movement, as a result of standing so side on, consisted largely of bending over at the hips. This was effective in evading much of Finnegans straight shots and stopped Finnegan really getting much off in the later stages, again I think Finnegan would have had more joy from wide shots and perhaps using the uppercut when Foster bent forward.

Again, being tactically astute and noticing these things watching it on a PC is a hell of a lot easier than making adjustments when you're in there getting punched in the face.

All in, a solid performance from Finnegan against one of the best light heavyweights in history and a good fight. But it wasn't the barn stormer I'd hoped for

[davie]

So far I have it 8 rounds down.
77-76

1. Draw
2. Finnegan
3. Finnegan - very close round
4. Foster
5. Finnegan - Ate some big shots but did enough to take the round. Suspect they were starting to effect him by now though
6. Foster
7. Finnegan
8. Foster


TBC....

9. Finnegan
10. Foster KD - 10-8. Finnegan was brave trying to get back into it after the KD
11. Foster
12. Foster
13. Foster
14. KO

A good fight but I struggle to see how it made fight of the year. I would be astounded if there wasn't a better fight in 1972.

I gave the last 5 rounds to Foster as he seemed in control but plaudits have to go to Finnegan for bravery for keeping on plugging away after clearly being hurt and being in against as destructive a fighter as Foster.
I did think there were a few things Finnegan could have done late in the fight (but i'm not going to be too critical, most of us aren't tactical geniuses after getting flattened).
I noticed Foster tried to get more on his toes in the last 5 rounds, but his footward was hardly the slickest, (he's quite bouncy is probably the best way to describe it) he also stood almost completely side on. I felt if Finnegan got his movement right, using more lateral movement to force Foster to turn, found angles and swung hooks, he might have been able to unbalance Foster.
I also noticed Fosters upperbody movement, as a result of standing so side on, consisted largely of bending straight over at the hips. This was effective in evading much of Finnegans straight shots and stopped Finnegan really getting much off in the later stages, again I think Finnegan would have had more joy from wide shots and perhaps using the uppercut when Foster bent forward.

Again, being tactically astute and noticing these things watching it on a PC is a hell of a lot easier than making adjustments when you're in there getting punched in the face.

All in, a solid performance from Finnegan against one of the best light heavyweights in history and a good fight. But it wasn't the barn stormer I'd hoped for

[PredatorHayds]

Good fight. I have it a lot different than most I had Foster winning quite easily only giving Finnegan 3 rounds.
Fosters jab was the best weapon of the fight. Such a great punch.
Also he had a lot more power than Finnegan who did well to last so long. Fantastic heart and courage to keep throwing throughout.

[handsofstone]

Another fight where i expected better having read about it a lot over the years,Finnegan was game and brave and had a decent spell for a few rounds mid to late rounds but faded again,wasnt competitive enough to be a great fight IMO

Foster is a smooth operator though and oozed class especially near the end