Foster Fears Jones is Too Small to Win

The light-heavyweight legend Bob Foster has warned Roy Jones, the current undisputed No1 in the 12st 7lb division, that he faces likely defeat when he steps up to heavyweight for the first time to challenge the World Boxing Association champion John Ruiz here on Saturday.

Foster, 64, held the world title from 1968 to 1974 but failed twice against the bigger men: beaten in two rounds by Joe Frazier in 1970 in a world title challenge and knocked out two years later by Muhammad Ali in eight.

"I had a lot of punching power but I knew that if I didn't get those guys in four or five rounds I wouldn't be able to stand with them for 15," said Foster. "Roy's going to have to get him early."

Jones, 34, is accepted generally to have been the outstanding boxer at any weight in the past decade, having previously held middleweight and super-middleweight titles. But he is expected to be outweighed by about 40lb by Ruiz, is also three inches shorter than his fellow American and has a considerable reach disadvantage.

Although Jones has lost only one fight, by disqualification, since turning professional after the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Foster added: "When Frazier hit me I didn't know where I was for a day and a half. Ruiz is a good heavyweight who puts a lot of pressure on you, and that will take a lot out of Roy. I have to go with the big man, even though I'd love to see Roy do it."