The boxing world has always been full of colourful, inspiring characters. But even in this space, George Foreman stands out as an iconic figure.
Foreman, who passed away last week at the age of 76, truly led a full life. There were huge highs and crushing lows, a religious awakening stemming from a near-death experience, and the most unlikely comeback story which saw him become the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
Foreman holds his own in cultural folklore, having ended up on the wrong end of perhaps the greatest boxing match in history — ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ against Muhammad Ali at Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1974. The epic battle — the subject of movies, books and documentaries galore — would normally define the life of the combatants. But not so for Foreman, who went on to script many glorious chapters.
Like most boxers, Foreman grew up in hardship and poverty. Raised by a single mother, Foreman’s youth was one of crime in the rough and tough Fifth Ward community of Houston, Texas.
He was a troubled teenager, having taken to mugging and robbing. A botched mugging incident, however, forced Foreman to change his ways. In the biographical sports drama film, ‘Big George Foreman’, the protagonist is seen chased by the police, and is forced to hide in the sewage area of a home.
Defining moment
Foreman escaped the wrath of the police, but decided that he had to exit this life of crime. He enlisted in the Job Corps, a United States of America government programme that offers free education and vocational training. At the Job Corps, for the first time in his life, Foreman gained the luxury of having three square meals a day.
It was here that Foreman first put on the boxing gloves, at the insistence of Doc Broadus, a Job Corps counsellor and boxing coach.
The bout the world watched: Foreman had no answers to Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope tactic in ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’. The epic battle in Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1974 is among the greatest in sporting history. | Photo credit: Getty Images
Foreman’s heavy punch, a trademark weapon through his career, was apparent early.
In just a year, Foreman managed to win the gold medal at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. After claiming the title, Foreman, a thorough patriot, waved a small American flag in the ring. This did not go down well with the African American community, who supported the actions of sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, both of whom raised a black-gloved fist in protest against racism and discrimination against black people in the United States.
In his autobiography ‘By George’, Foreman defended his stance, stating, “There was a big element of patriotism in what I did; being in the Olympics, you couldn’t help but love your country more than before.”
It was soon time to move to the professional ranks. He built a fearsome reputation, with wild, violent, swinging punches which resembled an axeman chopping a tree.
After crushing lesser opponents, Foreman got a title shot in 1973, against champion Joe Frazier. Foreman entered the fight the underdog, as Frazier had earlier shut out an undefeated Ali.
In a demolition job at Kingston, Jamaica, Foreman battered Frazier in terrifying fashion. Frazier was knocked down no fewer than six times in two rounds, before the referee mercifully ended the fight.
In October 1974, Foreman entered an epic title defence against Ali. An ageing Ali was given no chance against the marauding Foreman, who, like his idol Sonny Liston, was jeered as an angry, grumpy champion.
The early rounds saw Foreman land heavy body shots on a retreating Ali. Leaning against the ropes, Ali bravely took Foreman’s best shots, and refused to flinch.
Ruinous defeat
In the eighth round, a now tired Foreman began to lose power. Ali, the pioneer of the famous rope-a-dope, pounced with a quick combination that sent Foreman to the floor. The fight, one of the most-watched televised events at the time, would go down as Ali’s greatest moment.
For Foreman, the loss was devastating. He yearned for a rematch, but Ali would not accept the challenge. Foreman grew increasingly desperate, even putting on a farcical fare by fighting five contenders in one night.
Still got it: In 1994, Foreman became the oldest fighter ever, at age 45, to win a world championship. He knocked out Michael Moorer, 19 years his junior, to earn a remarkable come-from-behind victory. | Photo credit: Getty Images
Foreman’s shot at Ali would never come, as he had a life-changing experience in 1977. After losing to Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico, he suffered severe exhaustion and heat stroke. Foreman explained that he had a near-death experience in the dressing room, wherein he saw god.
“I went on the trip of my life. I was going to die in a stupid, nasty dressing room… I was dead. Over my head, under my feet — there was nothing. Just a horrible smell of death,” he said, in the documentary ‘Foreman’.
When Foreman regained his senses, a religious epiphany burst through. “Jesus Christ is coming alive in me!” he screamed, even as his staff tried to restrain him.
That night changed the course of Foreman’s life. A new man, he preached on street corners and started a youth centre. He swore never to box again.
But after nearly a decade of this way of life, Foreman found himself in financial difficulties. He needed to support his church and family, and had no choice but to return to professional boxing.
Now 38 and severely overweight, Foreman’s comeback plan was ridiculed by boxing pundits as a dangerous gimmick. Foreman, on the other hand, insisted that he could become heavyweight champion once again.
He had to start from scratch all over again, taking on journeymen in small arenas. Foreman was not as agile as before, but that famous punching power remained.
He worked his way up to a title shot against undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, but despite a stoic show, lost the fight.
After another loss to Tommy Morrison, it looked like the dream was over.
Grills pay bills: In his later years, Foreman prospered as a businessman. It is estimated that he earned over $200 million through the sales of the George Foreman Grill, far greater than his earnings as a professional boxer. | Photo credit: Getty Images
That was until Michael Moorer, who had defeated Holyfield for the championship, came calling. Moorer picked Foreman as his challenger out of the blue, as the fight was too lucrative to pass up. Foreman, 19 years older than Moorer, was seen as easy fodder.
Redemption song
On November 5, 1994, a packed house at Las Vegas witnessed the grandest occasion when Foreman punched past all odds. After being outboxed for nine straight rounds, Foreman came alive with a flurry of shots. A short right hand eventually caught Moorer flush on the chin, dropping the champion to the canvas.
“It happened! It happened!” exclaimed shocked ringside commentator Jim Lampley. At age 45, Foreman became the oldest fighter ever to win a world championship, 20 years after losing his title for the first time.
The impossible dream was achieved — the crowning moment of this second chapter of Foreman. Outside the ring, he had transformed into an affable man with a million dollar smile.
Foreman exorcised all ghosts from the fight in Zaire, and went on to forge a great friendship with Ali. “Ali was trying to win a boxing match, while I was trying to kill that guy. I wanted a second chance to kill him, and that broke my heart when I found religion. I fell in love with him later on,” Foreman said.
In his later years, Foreman prospered as a businessman. It is estimated that he earned over $200 million through the sales of the George Foreman Grill, far greater than his earnings as a professional boxer. He also embarked on a successful career as a boxing commentator and an actor.
To get up every time life lands a knockdown — that is the legacy Foreman leaves behind.
Published – March 28, 2025 11:47 pm IST