Tuesday, January 20, 2009

George Foreman Fight

By Denise I Smithson

George Foreman

His amateur career came to a close with an amazing record of 27-0. He turned professional in 1969, winning 12 fights that year with 11 of them won by knockout. He continued his quest towards claiming the undisputed heavyweight title during 1970 when he won every one of his twelve fights that year. Again, eleven of his victories were by knockout. Throughout 1971, George Foreman claimed seven more victories. By this time, he had amassed an impressive 32-0 record and was considered the number one challenger by both the WBC and the WBA. Foreman continued his string of victories adding five more victories in 1972. Each of these victories was won within three rounds.

In 1973, Foreman challenged Joe Frazier, the undisputed and undefeated world heavyweight champion, in a bout known as the Sunshine Showdown. The Sunshine Showdown was the first broadcast by HBO boxing. Foreman knocked Frazier down six times in just two rounds to claim the championship title by knockout, becoming one the biggest upsets in boxing history. Many fight fans will never forget the final blow, an uppercut that was delivered with such force that Frazier was lifted off his feet before crashing to the canvas one final time.

Foreman retained his heavyweight title until 1974 when he defended his title against Mohamed Ali, the former champion. This bout was known as "The Rumble in the Jungle" and was fought in Zaire. This was Foremans first defeat in his professional boxing career. After this defeat, Foreman remained inactive throughout 1975.

Foreman kept his heavyweight title until his bout with former heavyweight champion Mohamed Ali in 1974. This bout was dubbed the Rumble in the Jungle and took place in the African country of Zaire. Ali defeated Foreman for the first time in Foremans professional career. Foreman was inactive for the rest of 1975 after this crushing defeat.

Foreman returned to boxing with a comeback in 1976. He continued until 1977 when he experienced what seemed to be a near death experience. After losing to Jimmy Young in a difficult 12 round decision in Puerto Rico, he began to feel sick in his dressing room. He was terrified by this sudden illness, and asked God for help. Foreman says God asked him to change his life, prompting Foreman to become a born again Christian. After dedicating his life to Christianity, Foreman remarked that Jimmy Young quite literally beat the devil out of him.

Foreman stopped boxing, even though he never formally retired. He became a church minister, devoting his life to the care of his family and his church members. A youth center bearing Foremans name was opened, and Foreman continues to actively testify about his conversion experience.

Foreman has a large family of ten kids, including five girls and five boys. All five of his sons are named George. They are, of course, George Jr., George III, George IV, George V, and George VI.

Surprisingly, Foreman made another boxing comeback after 10 years out of the ring. At the mature age of 38, Foreman announced in 1988 that he would be returning to boxing. His aim was to show people that age did have to prevent anyone from achieving their goals. Foreman won eight fights that year, though none of his opponents were rated contenders. Foreman gained many victories, and some memorable defeats as well.

Foreman went on to break two boxing records when he regained the heavyweight title after successfully challenging Michael Moorer in Las Vegas on November 5, 1994. He not only became the oldest boxer to win the world heavyweight title; he also broke the record for longest interval between championship wins. He kept boxing until his second retirement in 1999.

Foreman was named the ninth greatest puncher of all time in 2003, when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Other notable business ventures include commercial appearances for Meineke Mufflers, and promoting his ubiquitous George Foreman Grill. In 2004, he added his own line of Big and Tall clothes through Casual Male.

In 1993, he starred in his own sitcom. Hes also been a judge on American Inventor, a TV reality series. Most recently, Foreman appeared in a July 2008 reality show titled Family Foreman which featured George and his family.

Foreman has authored four books, all of which detail his life experiences. Given Foremans many notable and interesting experiences, these books are likely to provide interesting reading. - 20785

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