Melvin Foster

Last updated

Melvin Foster (born February 23, 1971, in Washington, DC) is an American former heavyweight boxer best known for his amateur boxing career. He most notably defeated former world champion Mike Weaver and two-time title challenger Carl Williams.

Contents

Professional career

Known as "Top Gun", Foster turned pro in 1992 and remained undefeated until losing to Trevor Berbick in 1994. The following year he dropped a decision to Michael Moorer, and after the loss his once promising career began to sour, and he morphed into a journeyman fighter. He went on to lose bouts to Jimmy Thunder, Corey Sanders, Hasim Rahman, Derrick Jefferson, and Cedric Boswell. He retired in 2005 after a TKO loss to Eddie Chambers.

Professional boxing record

24 Wins (18 knockouts, 6 decisions), 13 Losses (8 knockouts, 5 decisions), 1 Draw
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Loss24-13-1 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Chambers TKO522/04/2005 Flag of the United States.svg Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win24-12-1 Flag of the United States.svg Willie PerrymanKO305/02/2005 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., U.S.
Loss23-12-1 Flag of the United States.svg Cedric Boswell UD822/09/2002 Flag of the United States.svg Friant, California, U.S.
Loss23-11-1 Flag of the United States.svg Danell Nicholson TKO418/01/2002 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 2:36 of the fourth round.
Loss23-10-1 Flag of the United States.svg Faruq SaleemSD1008/12/2001 Flag of the United States.svg Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Loss23-9-1 Flag of the United States.svg Derrick Jefferson TKO410/09/1999 Flag of the United States.svg Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 2:05 of the fourth round.
Loss23-8-1 Flag of the United States.svg Garing LaneUD830/07/1999 Flag of the United States.svg Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
Win23-7-1 Flag of the United States.svg Jade ScottUD1018/12/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Win22-7-1 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Weaver TKO908/08/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Spirit Lake, North Dakota, U.S.
Loss21-7-1 Flag of the United States.svg Hasim Rahman TKO214/03/1998 Flag of Russia.svg Moscow, Russia
Loss21-6-1 Flag of the United States.svg Corey Sanders TKO609/01/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Loss21-5-1 Flag of the United States.svg Robert HawkinsTKO1020/05/1997 Flag of the United States.svg Lyndhurst, New Jersey, U.S.
Loss21-4-1 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff WoodenTKO715/10/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win21-3-1 Flag of the United States.svg David SmithTKO226/04/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Westbury, New York, U.S.
Loss20-3-1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jimmy Thunder TKO803/10/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 1:03 of the eighth round.
Win20-2-1 Flag of the United States.svg Carlton WestTKO230/08/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., U.S.
Loss19-2-1 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Moorer UD10 13/05/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Sacramento, California, U.S.
Win19-1-1 Flag of the United States.svg Mike DixonTKO828/04/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Westbury, New York, U.S.
Win18-1-1 Flag of the United States.svg Carl Williams PTS1017/03/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win17-1-1 Flag of the United States.svg Ron GulletteKO311/01/1995 Flag of Maryland.svg Woodlawn, Maryland, U.S.
Win16-1-1 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy HarrisonKO622/10/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., U.S.
Loss15-1-1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Trevor Berbick SD1013/09/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Westbury, New York, U.S.
Win15-0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Mitch Green PTS1002/06/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Melville, New York, U.S.New York Heavyweight Title.
Win14-0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce JohnsonTKO223/04/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., U.S.
Win13-0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Martin FosterUD1022/03/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Win12-0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Mike WhitfieldUD817/02/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
Draw11-0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Martin FosterPTS828/01/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Kingston, New York, U.S.
Win11-0 Flag of the United States.svg Ron GulletteTKO212/10/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Win10-0 Flag of the United States.svg George HarrisKO225/09/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win9-0 Flag of Cuba.svg Lazaro AlmanzaTKO316/07/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Melville, New York, U.S.
Win8-0 Flag of the United States.svg Gary PooleTKO202/07/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., U.S.
Win7-0 Flag of the United States.svg Webster VinsonTKO218/06/1993 Flag of the United States.svg White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win6-0 Flag of the United States.svg Eugene AdamsTKO321/05/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Uniondale, New York, U.S.
Win5-0Ed McCarrollKO126/03/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win4-0Frank JulyKO119/02/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., U.S.July knocked out at 0:42 of the first round.
Win3-0 Flag of the United States.svg Charles BrooksKO109/12/1992 Flag of the United States.svg Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Win2-0 Flag of the United States.svg Don JohnsonKO129/11/1992 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., U.S.
Win1-0 Flag of the United States.svg Nelson GarciaPTS423/10/1992 Flag of the United States.svg Hauppauge, New York, U.S.

Amateur career

Ohio State Fair Runner-Up to "Iceman" John Scully, 165 pounds (1987)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Ruiz</span> American boxer

John Ruiz is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2010, and held the WBA heavyweight title twice between 2001 and 2005. Ruiz is of Puerto Rican descent, and is the first Latino boxer to win a world heavyweight title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Spinks</span> American boxer (born 1956)

Michael Spinks is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1988. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal heavyweight title from 1985 to 1988. As an amateur he won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leon Spinks</span> American boxer (1953–2021)

Leon Spinks was an American professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1995. In only his eighth professional fight, he won the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1978 after defeating Muhammad Ali in a split decision, in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Spinks was later stripped of the WBC title for facing Ali in an unapproved rematch seven months later, which he lost by a unanimous decision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Foster (boxer)</span> American boxer

Robert Wayne Foster was an American professional boxer who fought as a light heavyweight and heavyweight. He won the world light heavyweight title from Dick Tiger in 1968 via fourth-round knockout, and went on to defend the title fourteen times against thirteen different fighters in total from 1968 to 1974. Foster challenged Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali during his career, but was knocked out by both. He was named to Ring's list of 100 Greatest Punchers of all time. He was also named to Ring's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years, ranking at No. 55. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Saad Muhammad</span> American boxer (1954–2014)

Matthew Saad Muhammad was an American professional boxer who was the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World for two-and-a-half years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Moorer</span> American boxer

Michael Lee Moorer is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2008. He won a world championship on four occasions in two weight classes, having held the WBO light heavyweight title from 1988 to 1991; compiling 22 straight KOs in 22 fights and the WBO heavyweight title from 1992 to 1993; the unified WBA, IBF and lineal heavyweight titles in 1994; and regained the IBF heavyweight title again from 1996 to 1997 becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Tunney</span> American professional boxer

James Joseph Tunney was an American professional boxer who competed from 1915 to 1928. He held the world heavyweight title from 1926 to 1928, and the American light heavyweight title twice between 1922 and 1923. A highly technical boxer, Tunney had a five-fight light heavyweight rivalry with Harry Greb in which he won three, lost once, and drew once, though many ringside reporters believed Greb should have won the decision in their second meeting. Tunney also knocked out Georges Carpentier and defeated Jack Dempsey twice; first in 1926 and again in 1927. Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey remains one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight. He retired undefeated as a heavyweight after his victory over Tom Heeney in 1928, after which Tunney was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezzard Charles</span> American boxer (1921–1975)

Ezzard Mack Charles, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1940 to 1959. Known as the Cincinnati Cobra, Charles was respected for his slick defense and precision, and is often regarded as the greatest light heavyweight of all time, and one of the greatest fighters pound for pound, having defeating numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. Charles was the world heavyweight champion from 1949 to 1951, and made eight successful title defenses in under two years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Bugner</span> Hungarian-born British-Australian boxer and actor

József Kreul Bugner is a Hungarian born British–Australian former professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division and actor. He holds triple nationality, originally being a citizen of Hungary and a naturalised citizen of both Australia and the United Kingdom. He unsuccessfully challenged Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight championship in 1975, losing by a unanimous decision. As an actor, he is best known for his role in the 1994 action film Street Fighter alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Berbick</span> Jamaican boxer (1954–2006)

Trevor Berbick was a Jamaican professional boxer who competed from 1976 to 2000. He won the WBC heavyweight title in 1986 by defeating Pinklon Thomas, then lost it in his first defense in the same year to Mike Tyson. Berbick was the last boxer to fight Muhammad Ali, defeating him in 1981 by unanimous decision.

Mauro Mina Baylón was a Peruvian Light Heavyweight boxer known as the "Bombardero de Chincha", remembered as the best Peruvian boxer of the twentieth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernie Terrell</span> American boxer (1939–2014)

Ernest Terrell was an American professional boxer who competed from 1957 to 1973. He held the World Boxing Association's heavyweight title from 1965 to 1967, and was one of the tallest heavyweights of his era, at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall. He unsuccessfully fought the other world heavyweight champion of the era, Muhammad Ali, in a heavyweight title unification contest in 1967, losing by a unanimous decision. Terrell was the elder brother of the Supremes' early 1970s lead singer Jean Terrell. In the 1960s, Jean sang with Ernie's group Ernie Terrell & the Heavyweights.

Ray Anderson was a boxer in the light heavyweight division who fought from 1965 to 1977. Anderson became the first challenger to last fifteen rounds against Bob Foster for the world Light Heavyweight title, but he lost what was his only world title try by decision. Anderson currently lives in Anniston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin McBride</span> Irish boxer

Kevin Martin McBride is an Irish former professional boxer who is best known for defeating Mike Tyson. As an amateur, McBride competed for Ireland at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jameel McCline</span> American boxer

Jameel McCline is an American former professional boxer. He challenged for the world heavyweight title on an unprecedented four occasions, losing all four attempts to Wladimir Klitschko, Chris Byrd, Nikolai Valuev and Samuel Peter. Despite never winning a world title, McCline did defeat former champions and top contenders in Michael Grant, Lance Whitaker, Al Cole, Cedric Boswell and Shannon Briggs. McCline retired in 2012 at the age of 42.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Cole</span> American boxer

Alfred Rudolph Cole, best known as Al Cole, is an American former professional boxer. He won the IBF cruiserweight title and was a major force in the division until moving up to heavyweight, where he had less success. In 2001, Cole portrayed boxer Ernie Terrell in the film Ali.

Doug Jones was an American heavyweight boxer. He was the number-one contender in early 1964 and beat top contenders Zora Folley, Light Heavyweight Champion Bob Foster, Middleweight World Champion Bobo Olson and World Heavyweight title challengers Pete Rademacher and Tom McNeeley in his career. He was best known for his 1963 fight with Cassius Clay which he lost by Unanimous decision.

MacArthur "Mac" Foster was a 20th-century American heavyweight professional boxer.

'Iceman' John Scully is a former American boxer. Formerly a world-ranked professional light heavyweight, he is now a boxing trainer who has trained two light heavyweight champions in Chad Dawson and Artur Beterbiev and is an analyst for the ESPN Classic television network. John is also known for his work with disadvantaged former fighters and charity for them as well as organizing events targeting former amateur standout fighters and reconnecting them with the boxing community.

David Allen is a British professional boxer. He has challenged twice for the Commonwealth heavyweight title in 2017 and 2018. He holds a notable win over former WBA regular title holder Lucas Browne.