George Foreman, known as the boxing champion, grew up in poverty in the small town of Marshall, Texas. The fifth of seven children, his father, a railroad worker, and mother, a homemaker, worked hard, but due to lack of finances, they moved to Houston in what was known as the Fifth Ward, a rough area.
George was dropping out of school and the streets were leading him astray. He found himself in pool halls and gambling houses. He always found himself in fights because of his size. He was rebellious at home and would disappear for days.
In 1965, at the age of fifteen, he joined the Job Corps, where George met boxing supervisor and trainer Doc Broadus, who found in him not only strength, but also aggression. George, at first, was not interested in boxing, but realized that it was an outlet for his anger, a way to focus his energy. Under Brodus he learned discipline.
In just three years, George started himself in the world of boxing. In 1968, he will represent the United States in the Olympics in Mexico. He won the gold medal and was outstanding in his lap around the ring with the American flag.
This led him to a boxing career under trainer Dick Sadler and legendary promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank. He turned pro in June 1969 and in his first thirty-seven fights, thirty-four were by knockout, including a stoppage over Canadian George Chuvalo, 59-15-2, and a decision over South American Gregorio ‘Goro’ Peralta. The 74-year-old won. -5-8, both at Madison Square Garden.
In January 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica, George stopped 29-0 undefeated champion and former Olympic gold medalist “Smokin'” Joe Frazier in two rounds, knocking him out six times. After knocking out Joe ‘King’ Roman, 44-7-1, in Tokyo in the first round and future champion Ken Norton, 30-2, he split two fights with Ali, Caracas, Venezuela, stopping him in two rounds. . , he faced former champion Muhammad Ali in Zaire, Africa, 44-2, and lost his title in eight rounds.
Foreman bounced back by defeating Ron Lyle, 31-3-1, in Ring Magazine’s 1976 Fight of the Year. For four rounds, they traded blow after blow until he stopped Lyle in the fifth round. Then, a rematch with Frazier dropped him twice in the fifth before he was stopped.
Then, after scoring three knockouts, he faced Jimmy Young, 20-5-2, in San Juan, PR and was knocked out in the twelfth and final round, losing a decision in June 1977. and left the ring. In his dressing room, he saw a vision of Jesus Christ, who would eventually lead him into ministry.
George returned to the ring after an absence of nearly ten years and won a twenty-four fight streak, losing by decision to champion Evander’ The Real Deal Holyfield, 25-0, in Atlantic City.
After a three-fight win streak, George would lose to 36-1 Tommy ‘Duke’ Morrison in Las Vegas. Despite losing in November 1994, he fought WBA and IBF champion Michael ‘Double M’ Moorer, 35-0, in Las Vegas for a world title at the age of 45. After all blanks, he knocked out Moorer in the tenth round for the title.
George was stripped of the WBA title when he pulled out of a fight with Tony ‘TNT’ Taker. He returned to the ring in April 1995 and added a vacant WBU title with a controversial majority decision win over Germany’s Axel Schulz, 21-1-1, in Las Vegas. He was then stripped of the IBF title after refusing to give Schulz a rematch.
In November 1996, George returned to the ring in Japan and defeated Crawford ‘The Terminator’ Grimsley, 20-0, over 12 rounds and added the IBA belt. In April 1997, he won a split decision over Lou Savarese, 36-0, in Atlantic City.
In November, George’s career ended when he lost a controversial decision to Shannon ‘The Cannon’ Briggs, 29-1, in Atlantic City. His final record was 76-5 with 68 knockouts.
George made a fortune selling it George Foreman Grill.
