George Foreman spoils for fight at 55

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | February 12, 2004

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New York: Former heavyweight champion George Foreman, whose last bout was in 1997, is planning a comeback, at 55.

Foreman said he had lost 11 kilograms since starting to train on his birthday, January 10, and wanted to shed another 24kg. He said the comeback would be for one bout and he wouldn't fight unless he reached his target of 102kg within nine months.

"I want to prove there's no reason to be afraid of life at 55," he said from his home town of Houston. "I have no fear."

Glove affair: George Foreman.

Foreman was a boxing analyst with a US pay-TV channel for 12 years before leaving in December to spend more time with his family and promote his signature cooking grills. He has 10 children.

He won his first heavyweight title in 1973 with a technical knockout of Joe Frazier and retained his crown against Joe Roman and then Ken Norton in 1974. Later that year, he lost to Muhammad Ali in the famous "Rumble in the Jungle" in Zaire.

Foreman retired in 1977 then returned a decade later.

In 1994, he became the oldest reigning heavyweight champion at age 45 by stopping Michael Moorer for the IBF/WBA titles. Foreman won 76 of his 81 professional fights, 68 by KO or TKO.

Foreman said he did not expect to need a promoter to set up his comeback bout and had no specific opponent in mind.

"I just don't want to fight anyone over 30 because I don't want to hurt some old guy in the ring," he said.

Bloomberg

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If he wears that suit in the ring, his opponent will be hypmotized.

[eastforker]

George is one cool dude and lives just around the corner from me. His kids all go to the local public school here(one of the better ones supported by my tax dollar). He doesn't bite off ears either or rape young girls in hotels.

[NCC-1701]

Give it a rest, George.

[BlazingArizona]

Coming soon to the Phoenix Sundome...

[ClearCase_guy]

I give George a lot of credit. He was never trashy, and he walks the walk while talking the talk.

[Quilla]

Last week I heard a portion of Neil Cavuto interviewing Larry Holmes. They were discussing Lennox Lewis' possible retirement. Holmes said Lewis was simply a chicken. He went on to say he worked out 3 or 4 times a week and wanted to get back in the ring to fight George Foreman. Ain't boxing grand!

[Prodigal Son]

George is one cool dude and lives just around the corner from me.

Hey, if you see George, you tell him for me:

More power to ya!

I hope he knocks out whoever he faces if he makes it back in the ring.

[SubSailor]

Ya, I saw that too. Larry said he wanted to give George the "beating that he deserves", or something to that effect.

[Quilla]

I suspect Holmes' real motivation is a potential purse in eight figures. ;-)

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Bad idea. He should just enjoy living off the grill money.

[commish]

Actually that was who I thought of when I read the article.. Foreman - Holmes. Geezers at Ceasers. HMMMM.

Put it on the card with a Dela Hoya, Mosley, Roy Jones, whitaker, fight et al and you could actually end up with a decent gate and PPV take.

[Moby Grape]

Holmes was the chicken...he REFUSED to give Norton a rematch after Norton came within a whisker of knocking him out...he NEVER gave rematches to anyone who gave him any competition whatsoever....He REFUSED to fight Greg Page, hiding behind a "we-are-in-the-same-stable" excuse.

[Steelerfan]

On ESPN radio Holmes issued an open challenge to Foreman. Can't wait to see how Vegas will promote this battle of geriatrics.

[blackdog]

George is exactly what 55 year old men should be. How's about George faces off every member of congress, one a week? For charity ya know......

Let the first bout be with Ted Kennedy.

Just keep swimming George!

[reagan_fanatic]

Who's his opponent - Jack LaLane?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

""I just don't want to fight anyone over 30 because I don't want to hurt some old guy in the ring," he said."

I love this statement.

[Ancesthntr]

Can't wait to see how Vegas will promote this battle of geriatrics.

I don't know about the marketing, but the ref will begin with "OK, no hitting below the armrests, no poking the other guy in the eye with your canes, naps every 20 minutes, ....

[LibWhacker]

I'm sure he can still hit plenty hard enough to knock out anyone alive. The question is what can he hit? Sugar Ray Leonard's last appearance in the ring was a real embarrassment and he wasn't anywhere near 55.

[Revolting cat!]

He could fight Sly Stallone in Rocky XXXVII!

[cajun-jack]

I certainly won't be volunteering to hop in the ring with him.

I have been accused of being crazy but i have never been accused of being stupid!!