As I write this blog, it is with a heavy heart, simply because my all-time favorite fighter died a few days ago at age 76. When George was heavyweight champ in the early 70’s, I was not a huge boxing fan. Baseball, football and basketball were my favorites, with me watching an occasional fight on tv the extent of my knowledge of boxing.
However, when he returned in March of 1987 after a ten year hiatus from the ring, it was huge news to me. I so remember hearing a local Philadelphia sportscaster announce on the 11 o’clock news that George Foreman had fought that evening against a guy named Steve Zouski. I ran from the kitchen to hear the news, and I was shocked. I was also excited, because I love comeback stories.
George started off slow, and I tried to catch most of his fights on ESPN over my sister’s house, since we didn’t have cable at the time. He signed a contract with USA television, and was a regular on their Tuesday Night Fights broadcasts. Every time George fought, it was exciting to me, since by boxing was a HUGE part of my life.
When the big man fought Bert Cooper in June of 1989, it was exciting to see George stop him early. That was first serious test, and even though Cooper quit because he on drugs, it was still a big victory. His goal was to become heavyweight champion of the world again, at age 40, he would not be deterred.
In January of 1990, I went over my brother’s house to watch George take on Gerry Cooney at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall. It was on pay-per-view, and cost only
$14.99 to order the event. I was thrilled to do so, and watch what was billed as ‘The Preacher vs. the Puncher.’
Foreman easily knocked Cooney out in an amazing display of power, and made much of the public aware that he serious about becoming champ again. I never doubted that he could pull it off, and with every step into the ring, my love for him grew.
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