George Foreman

George Edward Foreman (born January 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas) is a former boxer who was twice Heavyweight Champion of the world, a successful businessman, and an ordained Christian minister. His nickname is Big George.

Comeback

In 1987, he surprised the boxing world by announcing a comeback. For his first fight back, he went to Sacramento, California, where he beat Steve Zouski by a knockout in four rounds. Foreman claimed he returned to the ring to prove that even after the age of 40 people could still achieve their goals. He won four more bouts in '87, and in 1988, he won nine, including a seven round knockout against former world Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

Related Topics:
1987 - Sacramento, California - Steve Zouski - 1988 - Dwight Muhammad Qawi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By that time, Foreman had become a successful business entrepreneur, selling everything from hamburgers to grills to mufflers on TV (a drastic change from the prior Foreman, known for being unfriendly). He and Ali had become very good friends, and he followed in his former rival and friend's footsteps by making himself a celebrity outside the boundaries of boxing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1989, Foreman continued his winning ways, winning five fights, including a 5-round knockout of former world Light Heavyweight champion JB Williamson, and a 3-round win over future Heavyweight title challenger Bert Cooper.

Related Topics:
1989 - JB Williamson - Bert Cooper

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1990, Foreman became once again a ranked contender, and he beat former title challenger Gerry Cooney by a knockout in two. He won four more fights that year.

Related Topics:
1990 - Gerry Cooney

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He started 1991 by realizing one of his dreams and challenging world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield for the world title in a Pay Per View boxing event. Foreman went twelve rounds with Holyfield before losing the decision. Round 7 was Ring Magazine's Round Of The Year. Once the fight was finished Foreman made the reporters feel half of his dream had been completed by saying that he showed the world people can go the full 12 rounds after reaching their forties.

Related Topics:
1991 - Evander Holyfield - Pay Per View

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Foreman boxed only twice more before receiving his next world title shot, for the vacant WBO championship against Tommy Morrison. Morrison beat Foreman in twelve rounds by decision, but Foreman refused to give up on his dream.

Related Topics:
WBO - Tommy Morrison

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1994, Foreman once again went for the world championship, after Michael Moorer had beaten Holyfield for the IBF and WBA titles. Foreman was trailing badly on all scorecards when he knocked out Moorer in the 10th round on November 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With this, Foreman broke two records: He became, at the age of 45, the oldest fighter ever to win the world Heavyweight crown, and, 20 years after losing his world title for the first time, he broke the record for the fighter with the most time in between one world championship run and the next.

Related Topics:
1994 - Michael Moorer - IBF - November 5 - Las Vegas, Nevada

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1995, Foreman beat Axel Schulz of Germany to retain his title, by a 12-round decision. But this fight became the catalyst of a big controversy: The IBF ordered an immediate rematch, to be held in Germany. But Foreman refused to travel to Germany to defend his titles, and gave both the WBA and IBF belts away.

Related Topics:
1995 - Axel Schulz - Germany

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1996, Foreman returned to Tokyo, where he beat Crawford Grimsley by a 12-round decision, and in 1997, he also beat Lou Savarese by decision. After the WBC decided to give the winner of his fight with Shannon Briggs a title shot against world champion Lennox Lewis, Foreman and Briggs fought, Briggs winning a 12-round split decision. After this bout, Foreman announced his retirement.

Related Topics:
1996 - Crawford Grimsley - 1997 - Lou Savarese - Shannon Briggs - Lennox Lewis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~