10 Top Facts about Legendary Boxer George Foreman

1974 Photo Sports George Foreman Olympic Gold Medalist Boxer Champion 7X9 photo sourced from Wikimedia commons

10 Top Facts about Legendary Boxer George Foreman

One of the most dreaded boxers in the 70s George Foreman was a dominant heavyweight during his reign. George Foreman, well known by his ring name “Big George,” is a famous American author, entrepreneur, clergyman, and former professional boxer. His skill, Jab and punching power made him a force to reckon with among his fellow competitors.

He had some of the finest comebacks in heavyweight history. He is renowned for his epic clashes with top fighters like Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. He rose from some of the most trodden-down conditions to become an iconic figure in the boxing world.  His resiliency and consistency differentiated him from ordinary boxers and he carved his name among heavyweights’ greatest fighters. Check out these top 10 facts about the Legendary George Foreman.

1. He was born in Marshall, Texas

George Foreman was born in Marshall, Texas on January 10, 1949. He grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Texas, alongside six siblings. George was indeed a troublesome adolescent. He dropped out of school when he was 15 and started as a mugger. Foreman, an underprivileged teenager, frequently harassed young students and disliked getting up early for school. By the age of 15, Foreman had become a mugger and brawler in the tough neighbourhood of Houston’s Fifth Ward.

2. Young George was interested in Football before switching to boxing

1974 Press Photo Sports George Foreman photo sourced from Wikimedia commons

When he was 16, Foreman had a change of heart and persuaded his mother to enrol him in the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps, a project designed to aid underprivileged children by giving them practical job skills. after viewing a TV advertisement for the Corps. When Foreman visited California, he met Doc Broaddus, a Job Corps counsellor and boxing trainer.

Foreman received his GED while enrolled in the Job Corps, where he also received training as a bricklayer and carpenter. Football was Foreman’s passion, but he switched to boxing. Broaddus was the one who persuaded Foreman to take up boxing.

3. He won a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics

Wire Photo Politics George Foreman Lyndon B Johnson photo sourced from Wikimedia commons

Foreman quickly had a stellar amateur record. In only his 25th amateur match, he earned a gold medal in the boxing/heavyweight class at the 1968 summer Olympics in Mexico City, capping off his amateur boxing career. In the championship match, Foreman defeated Jonas Čepulis of the Soviet Union, a 29-year-old veteran who had competed in over 220 fights throughout a 12-year amateur career and was 10 years older than Foreman.

The fight was halted in the second round. Čepulis had to take a standing eight count early in the second round because Foreman’s blows had already caused blood on his face in the first round.

4. He turned professional in 1969

George Foreman arrival at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol photo by Bert Verhoeff – Wikimedia commons

In New York City, Foreman defeated Donald Walheim in three rounds to make his professional debut as a boxer in 1969. In all, he fought 13 times that year, winning 11 of them via knockout.

Foreman won all 12 of his fights in 1970 as he maintained his ascent to the undisputed heavyweight crown. Foreman won seven additional matches in 1971, all of which were knockout victories. The World Boxing Association and World Box Council named him as the top challenger after he compiled a 32-0 (29 KO) record.

5. Foreman beat Joe Frazier to become World Heavyweight Champion in 1973

Joe Frazier photo by John Mathew Smith – Wikimedia commons

Foreman was scheduled to face unbeaten and unchallenged World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier in 1972 while still unbeaten and had a strong knockout record. Despite having a greater size and reach than Frazier, Foreman entered the battle as the underdog and was not predicted to prevail.

On January 22, 1973, in Kingston, Jamaica, the Showdown took place. Foreman dominated the contest and won the championship through technical knockout. Foreman was 37-0 and Frazier was 29-0 before the match. Within two rounds, Foreman had taken down Frazier six times. Even though Frazier was able to get back up after each of the six knockdowns, the referee ultimately declared the fight over.

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6. Foreman lost the heavyweight title to Muhamad Ali in 1974

George Foreman was defeated. photo sourced from Wikimedia commons

Foreman twice successfully defended his championship after winning it. In one of the quickest fights in boxing history, he defeated Jose Roman, the heavyweight champion of Puerto Rico, in just 50 seconds. In two rounds, Foreman also defeated Ken Norton. The Rumble in the Jungle, between Foreman and Muhammad Ali, which was scheduled for October 30, 1974, in Kinshasa, Zaire, was made possible by Foreman winning those two fights.

Ali utilized a strategy that would eventually become known as “rope-a-dope” to exhaust Foreman, who unleashed hundreds of strikes during the contest. When Foreman was knocked down in the eighth round, Ali unleashed a barrage of blows that allowed him to win back the world heavyweight title.

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7. He won the Heavyweight World Title at 45 years!

 Foreman faced Michael Moorer, the reigning champion, on November 5, 1994, and defeated him in the tenth round. Moorer boxed effectively during the first nine rounds, but in the tenth round, Foreman caught Moorer with a punch to the jaw, forcing him to the ground.

With this victory, Foreman was bestowed the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation Heavyweight title, which he had previously lost to Muhammad Ali 20 years prior. With the win, Foreman who was 45 at the time became the heavyweight champion at the oldest age ever, as well as the boxer with the longest gap between world titles during that time.

8. Foreman retired twice in his career

Boxer George Foreman & Archie Moore on way to Zaire 1974 Press Photo Boxing photo sourced from Wikimedia commons

After losing to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman retired for the first time. Foreman became ordained as a Christian preacher after experiencing what he described as a religious experience. After being out of the ring for ten years, Foreman shocked the boxing world in 1987 by announcing his comeback at the age of 38.

In his memoirs, he stated that his main goal was to generate money to support the youth centre he founded, which had eaten up a large portion of the earnings from his early career. With a total career record of 76 victories, 68 by knockout, and 5 defeats, Foreman once more announced his retirement from boxing in 1997.

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9. Foreman was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003

In 2003, Foreman was honoured by being inducted into both the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame 2003. Foreman ranks as the eighth-best heavyweight of all time according to the International Boxing Research Organization.

10. He is known for promoting the George Foreman Grill

Boxer George Foreman photo by el Grito – Wikimedia commons

He is a successful businessman outside of boxing and is well-known for having promoted the George Foreman Grill, which has sold and over 100 million people across the globe. He received close to $140 million for the commercial rights to that same grill in 1999.

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