The story of George Foreman is an extraordinary one, and one which demands reflection as the boxing world confronts yesterday’s unexpected announcement of the two-time world champion’s death in a Houston, Texas hospital at the age of 76. Fans, pundits, and fellow boxers are today offering up their tributes and words of praise, as they should, for an all-time great fighter who came from humble beginnings to climb the pinnacle of his chosen profession, not once, but twice, and in two different generations. Suffice to say, the career of George Foreman is remarkable, if not miraculous, and his achievements, one can say with certainty, will never be duplicated.
George Edward Foreman was born in Texas in 1949 and grew up in the Houston community nicknamed “The Nickel.” He was exceptionally strong and brawny as a youth but by the age of fifteen he was headed for serious trouble, quitting school and devoting himself to muggings and petty crime. Thankfully, he realized this was not the route to a good future and the Job Corps government program allowed him to get back on the right track and earn his high school diploma. At the same time, his family relocated to California and it was there that Foreman began to develop his natural athletic talents. His primary interest at first was football, but soon enough he discovered he had a gift for punching things with his fists. He compiled an 18-5 record in the amateurs before competing at the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials in 1968. He would go on to win the gold medal that year at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
Foreman’s less-than-prolific amateur record necessitated some seasoning and careful matchmaking once he joined the punch-for-pay ranks the following year, but by 1971 he was established as a top contender in the heavyweight division with wins over Gregorio Peralta, George “Scrap Iron” Johnson, George Chuvalo and Boone Kirkman. Still, when he signed up to challenge Smokin’ Joe Frazier for the world title, most regarded him as a solid underdog, lacking the talent to overcome Frazier’s intense aggression and vaunted left hook. But Foreman journeyed to Kingston, Jamaica and bucked the three-to-one odds against him, demolishing Frazier in a spectacular two round blowout, flooring “Smokin’ Joe” six times as Howard Cosell kept shouting “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
More violent knockouts followed, including a second round stoppage of Ken Norton, bringing to twelve Foreman’s run of early round demolitions. As a result, former champ Muhammad Ali was a solid four-to-one underdog when he challenged Foreman in 1974’s historic “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire. Some were so impressed by Foreman’s punching power and streak of vicious knockouts that they feared for “The Greatest’s” safety. But it was Ali’s turn to defy the oddsmakers as he out-boxed and out-lasted the younger, stronger man to score a stunning eighth round knockout.
Such was Foreman’s standing and self-image that he found the loss to Ali almost impossible to accept. He offered a series of excuses for it, claiming he was the victim of a fast count and, bizarrely, that he had been drugged before the bout. These dubious excuses only made the vanquished former champion a pitiful figure, and soon he became nothing less than a laughing-stock when, on national television, he took on five fighters, one after the other, in a bizarre spectacle at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
Foreman regrouped and reeled off five stoppage wins, including knockouts over Ron Lyle and Frazier, before traveling to San Juan, Puerto Rico to take on fellow top contender Jimmy Young. And this is where the story of George Foreman becomes even more extraordinary. Young, a skilled and shifty pugilist who is among the very best heavyweights of the 1970’s, surprised all with his performance as he put Foreman down in the final round and won a unanimous decision. However it was not the fight itself but its aftermath which would have the greatest consequences. Foreman would later claim to have had a near-death experience in his dressing room following the bout, during which he was confronted by God. Whatever the nature of this revelation, it was significant enough to inspire Foreman to turn his back on boxing, become an ordained minister, and establish a church in Houston, Texas.
Up to this point, Foreman’s standing as a boxer would have to be regarded as Hall of Fame worthy, but not quite on the same level as the greats of eras past. But then, in 1987, after a full decade away from the ring, George Foreman announced to the world he had decided to lace up the gloves again. The news was greeted with universal scorn and disbelief. Surely this was some kind of practical joke; boxers don’t come back after decade-long retirements. But photos soon surfaced of Foreman’s portly frame in the ring against a journeyman named Steve Zouski, the former champ’s massive paunch protruding over the waist band of his trunks, and thus began one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
However, no one saw it that way at the start. NBC boxing commentator Dr. Ferdie Pacheco echoed the thoughts of most at the time: “This is pathetic,” he declared. “It shouldn’t be allowed. He’s overage, inept. This whole thing is a fraudulent second career to build a big money fight with Mike Tyson.”
But, amazingly, Foreman persevered, kept fighting and kept winning, while at the same time transforming his public image. The younger George Foreman was a sullen, intimidating bully, but the new, older and wiser George Foreman was something else entirely: a cheery, grinning, self-deprecating man who wanted to be everyone’s friend and sell them a grill. By 1990 George had notched nineteen straight victories, all but one by stoppage, but the point when the former champ’s comeback became something other than a curiosity and a joke came when he stepped into the ring against former top contender Gerry Cooney. After blowing Cooney away in the second round, suddenly Foreman was no longer the butt of anyone’s laughter and even the most cynical of fight fans had to take him seriously.
The following year Foreman commanded a massive twelve million dollar payday when he challenged Evander Holyfield for the world title. Evander bested George by clear-cut unanimous decision, but even in defeat Foreman overturned the expectations of all but his most ardent fans as he remained competitive throughout the battle, taking Holyfield’s best shots and answering back with his own. Many assumed that this marked the end of the 42-year-old’s remarkable second chapter in boxing, but they were wrong: Foreman persevered, kept fighting, while also becoming a popular ringside commentator for HBO.
George Foreman will forever be an inspiration for what happened next. After a points loss to Tommy “Duke” Morrison in 1993, all assumed that the incredible journey was finally over. After all, he was 44-years-old now, and months of inactivity followed his fourth career defeat. But there Foreman was, signing contracts and cracking jokes at a press conference announcing a championship showdown against Michael Moorer. The man simply would not give up. And the miracle victory was his when, in an extraordinary performance, he put Moorer down for the count in Las Vegas with one huge right hand.
The perfect ending for Foreman’s incredible journey would have been if he had retired right then and there, but of course no one could resist the huge paydays that awaited him in his final matches against the likes of Crawford Grimsley and Lou Savarese. Amazingly, at the age of almost 49, Foreman more than held his own against Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs in his final career outing in 1997, the crowd booing the majority decision for Briggs. Finally, Foreman retired, leaving the sport a richer one for his remarkable career, and walking away with a ledger of 76 victories against only five defeats, with an amazing 68 wins by knockout.
Aside from firmly establishing himself as one of the hardest and most dangerous punchers in all of boxing history, the legacy of George Foreman is one of incredible determination, one which proves the inspiring truth that it is never too late to change the direction of one’s life and seek second chances. Who could ever have thought that a teenaged thug could turn his life around and become an Olympic gold medalist and a world champion? And after defeats to Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison, who gave Foreman a serious chance of ever regaining that championship? But, as Jim Lampley said, “It happened.” As did George Foreman’s incredible life. He will never be forgotten. –Neil Crane
