After his announced retirement at age 44 after the loss to Tommy Morrison in June of 1993, George started production of his tv sitcom aptly named ‘George’, that summer. It did poorly in the ratings, and was cancelled after one season, but George continued on as an HBO announcer.
While calling the Michael Moorer vs. Evander Holyfield fight in April of 1994, George made his opinion known after the decision giving Moorer the victory. He stated flat out that “Evander won the fight, and the judges got it wrong.” Whatever his opinion, Moorer was the new champion. George went to promoter Bob Arum, and asked if he could set up a bout with Moorer for him. Arum insisted “You’ll have to get in real shape if I do George!” Foreman promised he would do whatever it took, and the fight was set up that summer for November 5 in Vegas.
I was thrilled that George was getting another title shot, and happened to be on vacation in Vegas a week before the bout. I saw Foreman talk on the Jim Rome show at the MGM Grand Casino, and was juiced for the whole thing. For the first time in my life, I bet $200 on George at 2 1/2 to 1. A win would bring me $500, not a bad payout.
Watching the fight on HBO the following Saturday night, I was nervous. George had weighed in at a solid 250 lbs., and was as prepared as he could be. Nevertheless, he was taking a pounding for most of the first half of the bout, and landed an occasional hard left jab and right hand. By the ninth round, it really appeared that the comeback would end for good this time, and there would be no more chances. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
Foreman started aggressively in the tenth, throwing left hooks and landing them. Moorer retreated as George became aggressive, knowing this was his last chance. Late in the round, after landing a left jab and a right cross that stopped Moorer, George landed another left, followed by a short right hand that dropped Moorer, and knocked him out. As Jim Lampley screamed “It happened! It happened!”, I was beyond thrilled. My hero had accomplished his goal after all, and after losing the championship to Muhammad Ali in 1974, twenty years later became the oldest heavyweight champ ever at age 45.
It was one of my favorite moments ever as a boxing fan. The comeback which began in March of 1987 had culminated with the title seven and a half years later. The $500 I won was an added bonus, what was to me an amazing accomplishment. One word described it all. Incredible.
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