Thursday, March 26, 2009

George Foreman Boxer

By Denise I Smithson

George Foreman

George Foreman is a household name with a long and storied career. He not only has the distinction of being pegged as one of the top 25 boxers of all time, he was also the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight title. A man of diverse talents, hes also an ordained Christian pastor with his own church, and an accomplished businessman in his own right.

He achieved an astounding record of 27-0 in his amateur career before turning professional in 1969. In his first year as a professional boxer, he won 12 fights, 11 of which were by knockout. He continued his quest for an undisputed heavyweight title in 1970 after winning all twelve of his fights that year. Just like the prior year, 11 of those victories were by knockout. During 1971, George Foreman earned seven more victories and had attained an astonishing 32-0 record. The WBC and WBA both considered him the number one challenger. Foreman continued his winning streak with an additional five victories in 1972. All of these victories were won in three rounds.

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.

However, he made a comeback, returning to boxing in 1976. Foreman continued boxing until 1977 when he experienced what he felt was a near death experience. He became very ill in his dressing room in Puerto Rico after losing to Jimmy Young in a 12 round decision. He was frightened by this sudden illness and asked God to help him. He reported that God asked him to change the ways of his life. He became a born again Christian, dedicating his life to Christianity. He jokes that Jimmy Young literally knocked the devil out of him.

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.

In 1994, Foreman regained the heavyweight title when he challenged Michael Moorer on November 5 in Las Vegas. With this victory he broke two records; the oldest fighter to ever win the world heavyweight title as well as breaking the record of the longest interval between championships. He continued boxing until his second retirement in 1999.

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.

George Foreman was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. He was ranked as the ninth greatest fighter of all time.

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 sit-com. He was also a judge on the reality series American Inventor. In July of 2008, a reality show called Family Foreman debuted featuring George and his family.

Foreman has published four books, all of which talk about his life experiences. Given the storied life Foreman has lived so far, these books are sure to be interesting reading.

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