After losing to Tommy Morrison on June 7, 1993, I never thought I would see George in the ring again. However, when Michael Moorer barely won a decision over Evander Holyfield ten months later on April 22, 1994 to become the new heavyweight champion, George wasn’t convinced and said so during his commentary on HBO. He thought Evander had gotten robbed, so it lit the flame in his mind that he could beat Moorer.
After convincing Bob Arum that he would train seriously if he got a title shot with Moorer, Arum secured the bout and it was signed in the summer for November 5, 1994 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I was as excited as anyone and while in Vegas the week before the fight, managed to see George in person while he did the Jim Rome show at the sportsbook in the MGM.
I arrived home excited and was honestly convinced that he could knock Moorer out. So much so that I placed the first bet of my life on boxing by putting $200 on him to win. With Moorer the 2 1/2 to 1 favorite, a Foreman win would net me a $500 profit. Having been on his side since his comeback began in the spring of 1987, winning a few bucks would just be icing on the cake.
When George weighed in at a solid 250 lbs. for the bout, it was obvious that he had prepared the best he could. Even so, my brother and I were nervous when the opening bell rang. Moorer was fighting well for the first six rounds, landing hard jabs and combinations on George, who seemed a split second behind his younger opponent. George would and occasional big punch too, giving me hope he could eventually nail Moorer.
After a rough ninth round, my heart dropped when Angelo Dundee, Foreman’s trainer asked him if he was ok. George said he was, but I knew like Dundee did that he was running out of time. Incredibly, ‘Big George’ came to life in the tenth and started firing off big punches repeatedly. Halfway through the round, he made his move by roping Moorer directly in front of him, and throwing the hardest left hooks he could. George then landed a solid left jab, right combination and followed it by another, only the second right hand put Moorer flat on his back and out for the count. As Jim Lampley yelled “It happened! It happened!” into his microphone, my heart jumped for joy at the spectacular sight. George had done just as he has predicted, and at 45 years old, was the new heavyweight champion of the world!
I was in a daze for days over his knockout win, thrilled that he was actually the new champ. My winning $500 was an added bonus, but George actually pulling off the miracle meant more. In all of my 40 plus years as a boxing fan, this is my most favorite of all. George making his impossible dream come true.
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