Joe Bugner vs. Mac Foster

Joe Bugner 223 lbs beat Mac Foster 233 lbs by PTS in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1973-11-13
• Location: Empire Pool, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
• Referee: Harry Gibbs 100-96.5

"European heavyweight champion Joe Bugner left the ring to the boos and jeers of the near-capacity crowd Tuesday after outpointing American Mac Foster over 10 dull rounds. Referee Harry Gibbs, who produced more action during the contest than both fighters, gave Bugner a maximum 100 points against Foster's 96 1/2, but the scoring did not reveal the below-par performance by the British boxer. He showed little knowledge of how to overcome an overweight opponent who was clearly content to spoil and maul his way through. Only once did the American show any real threat to the British boxer. This was in the 8th when he threw a left hook following a clinch which had Bugner going backwards. With the crowd jeering at its loudest, Bugner attempted to fight back but was soon tied up in clinches by the ponderous Foster. Referee Gibbs repeatedly called for more action, with little effect. It was Bugner's fifth successive contest that had gone the full distance, and his most disappointing." -United Press International

Post-fight comments

• "It was just a bad night. The crowd was quite right in booing. They expected fireworks and didn't get any." -Joe Bugner

• "Every time I hit Bugner the referee shouted, 'Get back, Mac.' Bugner will never be world champion." -Mac Foster

• "Joe got the bird tonight and quite rightly. We are not complaining. The crowd expected Joe to knock Foster out in 4 rounds but it was a very bad night for Joe. We needed this fight like a hole in the head." -Andy Smith, Bugner's manager