07.01.08 – By James Slater: As we start a new month of a new year, I look back at how this very month of January was very much an important and significant one in the life and career of heavyweight phenomenon George Foreman. Indeed, no fewer than five hugely principal moments in “Big” George’s astonishing life occurred in the month we are now in.
First things first then. George Foreman came into the world in the month of January, in the year 1949. This fact was actually the subject of much debate in later years, especially when Foreman began his unlikely comeback in the late 1980’s. For many, not least “The Bible of Boxing” itself, in Ring magazine, had George’s birth date amongst their files as being January the 22nd, 1948. It seemed at one time that, despite his best efforts at informing anyone who would listen that he was actually born on January the 10th, 1949, the media simply thought George was trying to knock off a year from his current age for the purpose of appearing a touch younger in his ridiculed return..
Eventually, however, the correct date became the only one to be used in George’s bio details.
This actually removed a statistic from his pro record though. George defeated world champion Joe Frazier on January the 22nd, 1973 and for a long time it was written how he had been one of only a very few prize fighters to have won a world title on their birthday. Despite this statistic later being proved untrue, the date was one on which the young Foreman found much happiness and pride all the same. In just two rounds, he had become the world heavyweight champion. His reign didn’t last long though, as we know. The great Muhammad Ali saw to that, and George disappeared from view for over a year. When he did return to the ring it was in the month of January. And what a fight he and his opponent gave us!
George boxed the equally big Ron Lyle on the 24th of the month, in 1976 and the action that followed was truly unforgettable. Both men hit the canvas twice each in a sensational slugfest. Finally Lyle, after his second trip to the mat, stayed there way past the count of ten. This was the fight that convinced many, not least George himself, that any courage thought to be lacking after the disappointing way he went out in Zaire against Ali was very much present. George had exorcised a good many demons thanks to his fifth round KO of the hard punching Lyle. A few more wins followed, including another win over Joe Frazier, and then Foreman fought one Pedro Agosto, in the operative month of this article, in 1977. George won in four rounds.
The bout is significant though, for it was his final win for over ten long years. A points loss to the crafty Jimmy Young followed, as did a ten year about turn from the sport of boxing.
When George did shock the world by announcing his intention to return to the squared circle there was much derision. This trend continued for quite some time – until George, now nicknamed “The Punching Preacher” thanks to the religious experience he’d had moments after the loss to Young in Puerto Rico, signed to fight a real test in the form of Gerry Cooney. All his critics agreed, George was finally in the ring with someone capable of hurting him. This fight came in the first month of the year 1990. George won via a crushing second round KO. He was back now. Even the ever so cynical members of the media admitted as much.
His comeback now recognised as a legitimate one, Foreman fought until receiving a title shot – of which he actually got two. We all know what happened when he entered the ring for the second one. At the age of forty-five, and after over twenty years had passed since he’d first won it, in January of ’73, the title was George’s again.
What an improbably event-filled life “Big” George Foreman had/is having. He has achieved things in his life that many logical thinking people thought to be utterly impossible. As George himself says somewhere in the final pages of his autobiography, “ Lord, this is some kind of life you’ve given me.”
A life that began fifty-nine years ago this very month.