Bob Foster vs. Frankie DePaula
Bob Foster 172 lbs beat Frank DePaula 173 lbs by TKO at 2:17 in round 1 of 15
- Date: 1969-01-22
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
- Referee: Johnny LoBianco
- WBC Light Heavyweight Title
- WBA World Light Heavyweight Title
- Time: 2:17
- Foster was down once, before flooring DePaula three times, which triggered the three knockdown rule.
- DePaula was a 1-5 underdog according to Associated Press.
- Photo #2, Photo #3
"Light heavyweight champion Bob Foster said it wasn't his easiest fight. But his 1st round TKO of outmatched Frankie DePaula in a title defense at MSG Wednesday night has to rate high up on any fighter's soft touch list. It took the champ from Washington, D.C, just 2:17 to drop the challenger from Jersey City, N.J., on the canvas three times and under New York's three-knockdowns in one round rule, the fight was automatically over. Most of the fans came from New Jersey to root for the crude but hard-hitting bouncer and Frankie gave the partisan crowd one brief moment of hope when he had the champ on the deck from a left to the body, which looked more like a slip since the blow had little steam behind it. But just a few seconds later Frankie went down from a hook and a right and two more knockdowns followed to end matters." -Associated Press
- Attendance - 16,129
- Gate - $189,129
- Purses: Foster - $75,000 (app.), DePaula - $37,500 (app.)
Post-fight comments
- "I wasn't hurt. My feet went out from under me. A couple of punches stunned me but it was my feet - they just went out from under me. They shouldn't have the three-knockdown rule for title fights. I wasn't hurt." -Frankie DePaula
- "I disagree. As the champion, I should be against the rule. But it's a good rule. That way no one gets hurt." -Bob Foster