After losing to Evander Holyfield in April of 1991, George Foreman returned to action in December to face Jimmy Ellis. Ellis’s claim to fame was having played strike NFL football for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987, not boxing. The overwhelmed opponent was easily disposed of in three rounds on December 7, 1991 in Reno, […]

After his second round knockout of Gerry Cooney on January 15, 1990, ‘Big George’ was back in the ring four months later on the USA network. I loved taping his fights and watching them over and over again, even if his opponents were suspect at best. In this case, Mike Jameson, who had basically been

In March of 1987, I was in the kitchen of our home when I heard the late Philadelphia sportscaster Gary Papa announce that George Foreman had fought in Sacramento, California that night. After running to the recreation room to catch the report, I couldn’t believe it was true. After 10 long years away from the

After coming out of his depression from his loss to Muhammad Ali on October 30, 1974, George Foreman returned to the ring the following April 26th. George decided he would take on what were called “The Toronto Five” at the Maple Gardens in Toronto, Canada. The event consisted of him fighting five exhibitions on the

George signed to meet Ken Norton on March 26, 1974 in Caracas, Venezuela. Norton got the title shot despite the fact he had lost his last bout to Muhammad Ali on September 10, 1973 at the Forum in Los Angeles. Foreman was guaranteed $500,000 for the bout, while Norton settled for $200,000. Don King was

George Edward Foreman was born on January 10, 1948 in Marshall, Texas. Growing up in the poorest part of Houston, Texas, George joined the Job Corps, where he learned to box. In the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, he won the gold medal, then returned home to embark on his professional career. His first

After losing to Larry Holmes on October 20, 1980 in humiliating fashion, most figured Muhammad Ali would retire for good. However, a month later while narrating the replay on ABC with Howard Cosell, he hinted that he might return to show that he could have done better. It was later learned that a quack doctor

After struggling in his third fight with Ken Norton on September 28, 1976, Ali was forced to deal with a critical press and much of the public who felt he lost. His next fight in May with Alfredo Evangelista didn’t do anything to restore his fading image, since he didn’t show much in a distance,

When Muhammad Ali lost to Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971, his mission was to recapture the heavyweight title he lost when he was stripped for refusing induction into the army in April of 1967. After 3 1/2 years in exile, he returned in October 1970, but lost to Joe Frazier five months later. That

After their first meeting on March 8. 1971, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought for a second time three years later on January 28, 1974 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ali won a unanimous decision, and nine months later shocked the world with his 8th round knockout of George Foreman to regain