[mikehoudini]

Bob Foster (2-1) vs. Henry Clark (0-1) – These two had fought a war, Clark building up a nice lead, then Foster flooring him twice in the 10th to pull out a majority decision! For some reason, Clark hadn’t been training for this rematch. Would that be a factor?

After an uninspiring first minute, Bob started jabbing and hooking, all the while backing up, and he got the nod, 8-4. The first minute of the 2nd, was a continuation, and the fans started booing as they’d expected much more action. Foster heard the taunts and threw caution to the winds. He blasted home a hook, then rocked Henry with an uppercut, followed by a rapier jab that sent Clark back into the ropes! He connected on a series of crosses, and Clark held onto the ropes after the last one, as the bell sounded. Foster had dominated, 27-2, but Clark was still alive!

Bob may have punched himself out in the 2nd, and both fighters were content to clinch and lean on each other in a dull 7-4 3rd, arguably won by Foster. When he ripped a jab home to start the 4th, he was in good shape, Clark having shown no offense to date, a far cry from their prior clash! They had a few decent exchanges, then Clark finally caught fire, landing a bunch of hooks to outscore Bob, 10-8.

They went at each other in the 5th, Henry being a little more active and accurate with his hooks, and he pulled away, 12-7. After his two round rally, he was tired, possibly because of his training regimen. Foster fired a cranium-crusher that knocked him sideways, then landed a few lighter punches to rule the 6th, 8-2, as Clark was content to clinch.

Clarkie came back with some nice crosses in the 7th, making Foster miss. Bob needed a hard uppercut at the end of the round to make it even close, 10-7. Henry was like Henry Armstrong in the 8th, throwing hooks and crosses at breakneck speed! Foster blocked some, but many got through, and one hook caused Bob to wince. Landing 53 times in all, this was reminiscent of the way he’d fought the first time, and Clark ruled, 18-4! Foster looked exhausted after absorbing all those punches, and the fight seemed about even. Who would prevail?

Foster blocked a Clark hook to begin the 9th, countering with one of his own that was picture-perfect! He followed that in short order with a hard cross and even harder uppercut, and Henry was hurt! Landing uppercut after uppercut, he knocked Clark into the ropes, and caught him bouncing off them with a searing combination, then an uppercut that sent Clark flying into his corner! Henry was almost helpless, and Foster measured him for and then delivered a straight right, then turned to the referee, pointing to his dazed foe! The ref agreed, and Foster, who was head, 27-2, was declared the winner by a TKO at 2:02 of the 9th! Clark’s conditioning woes might have been a factor, as he wasn’t as active as in their first match-up. In any event, Foster is only the 2nd to successfully defeat his challenger!