Good Night Big George -By Kunle Awosiyan
On April 19, 1991, George Foreman put up a classic against one of the best heavyweight champions, Evander, (Real Deal) Holyfield.
Tagged, “Battle of the ages”, the Big George stood toe-to-toe, pound-for-pound against a younger Holyfield to collapse the two great eras in boxing history.
Having fought 81 fights, winning 76 with 68 knockouts, Foreman threw in the final towel that will never be found in the ring again either as a boxer or a coach. Big George is dead.
Interestingly, he won 76 and died at 76. Coincidentally, his main rival, the legendary Muhammad Ali, who defeated him in 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire, died at the age of 74.
Foreman’s defeat to Ali devastated him, and for about 10 years, he never recovered. And when he returned, he fought his way back to the zenith when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994, 20 years after he lost the title to Ali.
Regarded as one of the hardest punchers that had graced boxing ring, Foreman, a Hall of Famer will be remembered for his bouts against Smokin Joe Frazier in which he pummeled the former champion to submission, his brawl against Ron Lyle that recorded about seven falls and his classic against Holyfield.
Big George built one of the most remarkable and enduring careers in the sport, winning Olympic gold in 1968 and claiming the world heavyweight title twice, 21 years apart – the second making him the oldest champion in history aged 45.
He retired from the sport in 1997 but not before he agreed to put his name to a best-selling grill – a decision that went on to bring him fortunes that dwarfed his boxing earnings.
Good night Big George
