Some say that the man is more famous for his Grill than for his boxing career.
So you may know all there is to know about the grill, but what about the man behind it all? What do you know about the famous boxing champion? The oldest man to ever win a major heavyweight title? Yes that’s right, George Foreman. At 45, this man was able to defeat 26 year old Michael Moorer. After 10 rounds of all out dueling, this man was able to defeat the young boxer. George is in fact such a famous and amazing boxer that he has been included in the top 25 greatest fighters of all time as according to Ring Magazine. So, let’s start out with his professional career and move on to his present life.
In 1969, Mr. Foreman turned into a professional boxer. In his first year, he won all 12 of his fights. The next year he continued his trek for the heavyweight title, and he again defeated all twelve of his matches. After Foreman later picked up a record of 32 wins and 0 losses, he was set up to fight against the then undisputed world heavyweight champion. In 1973 Foreman was set to go against Joe Frazier. Foreman won the championship by knocking down Frazier 6 times in just two rounds. Foreman’s first lost was to the great and famed Muhammad Ali in 1974.
In 1975 Foreman took the year off and returned in 76, first fighting against Ron Lyle and then going for a rematch with Joe Frazier. This later fight was more competitive then the first, but Foreman beat him out. In 1977, Forman entered a year that would prove to be life-changing. In a fight in Puerto Rico, Foreman lost to Jimmy Young in a 12 -rounder. After the fight, foreman became ill in the dressing room and suffered from a heatstroke coupled with the exhaustion from his 12 round match. At this moment, Foreman believed that he had gone through a near death experience. It was during this experience that the man found himself speaking with God. Foreman was pleading to God, asking him to help him change his life and ways. From then on Foreman became a Christian, and said he would dedicate his life to Christianity. He stopped fighting and became a minister of a church in Houston, Texas.
After about ten years away from the fighting ring, Foreman decided to come back in 87. At this point in his life Foreman had gained a lot of weight and looked out of shape. His first fight was against Steve Zouski, who he won against. Foreman wanted to show the world that old age was not a barrier. Later during that year he won four fights and gradually lost weight, gaining back his fighting shape. In 89, while the man continued along in his comeback, Foreman also started to become a famous business entrepreneur. He sold everything from Grills to mufflers. He is obviously well noted for his George Foreman Grill. In 1991 Foreman was given the chance to battle the then undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Foreman was 42 at the time. There were very few boxing critics who thought that Foreman was going to win. However, Foreman was able to last 12 rounds. He eventually lost in points.
In 1994 Foreman sought to challenge Micheal Moore, the current championship holder. At the time, Foreman was not ranked and did not have the right to ask for such a challenge. Yet Foreman was persistent, after going to the courts Foreman said that age discrimination was the cause of the refusal, and he won the case. During his famous battle, Foreman started off weak, obviously lagging behind in points and power. During the 10th round however, foreman was able to make it with a comeback as he was able to hit Mooer with several jabs, eventually knocking him out. At this, Foreman became the oldest fighter to win the title.
Foreman has 10 kids, 5 of them are boys. All of the boys are named George, after him.
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