BoxRec

If Bob Foster had challenged Jimmy Ellis for the WBA Heavyweight Championship in 1969, who would have won?

Scypion wrote: ↑23 May 2020, 15:24 If Bob Foster had challenged Jimmy Ellis for the WBA Heavyweight Championship in 1969, who would have won?

IMO, no, Ellis, probably a decision

Thanks for the response. I agree that Ellis would win, but I think that Jimmy would have knocked out Bob Foster, judging from how Foster did against heavyweights Doug Jones, Ernie Terrell, and Zora Folley, and how easily he was handled by Ali and Frazier.

Scypion wrote: ↑25 May 2020, 00:10 Thanks for the response. I agree that Ellis would win, but I think that Jimmy would have knocked out Bob Foster, judging from how Foster did against heavyweights Doug Jones, Ernie Terrell, and Zora Folley, and how easily he was handled by Ali and Frazier.

I strongly agreed. Ellis would get the better of Foster with jabs and left-right combos before knocking him out in 12 rounds imo.

Thanks. Makes you wonder what would have happened if Jimmy Ellis had stayed at light heavyweight (2 fights in 1965 at 176 lbs.). His biggest problem at heavyweight was with fighting bigger men like Ali, Frazier, Shavers, Lyle, Bugner, etc. He would not have had this problem at light heavyweight.

Ellis by close decision, probably an arguable one.

DrDuke wrote: ↑25 May 2020, 17:15 Ellis by close decision, probably an arguable one.

Thanks. Maybe you are thinking of a repeat of the Ellis/Patterson fight.

Scypion wrote: ↑25 May 2020, 18:08

DrDuke wrote: ↑25 May 2020, 17:15 Ellis by close decision, probably an arguable one.

Thanks. Maybe you are thinking of a repeat of the Ellis/Patterson fight.

His Quarry fight also was close enough for a debate.

Quarry was another underrated fighter. Not saying that because of any white hope thing or anything like that. He did beat Shavers and Lyle.

Scypion wrote: ↑25 May 2020, 18:18 Quarry was another underrated fighter. Not saying that because of any white hope thing or anything like that. He did beat Shavers and Lyle.

I'd say, he was #6 in that era. After Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Young.

I think Ellis would knock out Foster. Somewhere between the 8th and 10th seems about right.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑25 May 2020, 20:03 I think Ellis would knock out Foster. Somewhere between the 8th and 10th seems about right.

Thanks. Could be.

It seems almost impossible that Jimmy Ellis would not have been a top light heavyweight during that era (late 60's and early 70's). At heavyweight, Ellis lost mostly to boxers like Joe Frazier (twice), Muhammad Ali, Ron Lyle, Joe Bugner, Ernie Shavers, and Boone Kirkman; all boxers that were bigger than him. He also had a draw against Larry Middleton, who was also bigger. He would not have had this problem with light heavyweights.

Foster wouldn't do well vs many HWs of note, he was weak as a HW

The only heavyweights Ellis lost to were Frazier and Ali when he was prime or close to prime. His next loss was to Shavers when he was 33. All of his losses after the Shavers fight and his draw with Larry Middleton were in the other boxer's home town except for his 2nd fight with Frazier. Also, all his losses to heavyweights and the draw with Middleton were to fighters bigger than him.

Actually, about the only heavyweights that were better than Jimmy Ellis during his prime years were Ali and Frazier.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑28 May 2020, 23:16 Foster wouldn't do well vs many HWs of note, he was weak as a HW

True. Foster was a very good light heavyweight and could use his height and reach to his advantage. It helped that the Light heavy division was weak during his championship run. He also could hit hard at 175.

Ellis would win a close decision. Bob gives him the occasional problem but Jimmy would find counters to them each time.