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Once a
rebellious teen, "Big George" found boxing as an outlet while in
the Job Corps. Foreman's successful amateur career included the
1968 National AAU heavyweight championship and the heavyweight
gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games. He turned pro in 1969 and
wasted little time defeating top opposition. The hard-punching
Foreman met heavyweight king Joe Frazier on January 22, 1973 and
dispatched the champion in two rounds. He lost the title to
former champion Muhammad Ali in "The Rumble In The Jungle" on
October 30, 1974. In 1977 he dropped a 12 round decision to
Jimmy Young, after which he had a religious experience and
retired from the ring to become an ordained minister. But a
decade later, Foreman embarked on one of the most improbable ,
yet successful, comebacks in sports history. On November
5, 1994, the 45-year old Foreman defeated Michael Moorer to
regain the heavyweight championship and became the oldest man
ever to hold the crown. He retired from the ring with a 76-5 (68
KO's) record following a controversial loss to Shannon Briggs in
1997. Still active in boxing, Foreman serves as expert
commentator for HBO's World Championship Boxing. |
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