Some 55 long years ago in New York, a future two-time heavyweight king and an absolutely beloved figure met a future movie star who would appear in at least two films we all love to the core.
Imagine being a ranked heavyweight contender coming off a losing world title challenge to Muhammad Ali and then going in with, back-to-back, Earnie Shavers and George Foreman.
Rewind to January 1973 and the exotic location of Kingston, Jamaica. Not too many experts were predicting a George Foreman win in his challenge of the unbeaten Joe Frazier.
Of all the fights that could have happened that were close to happening, the one that serves to be absolutely the most tantalizing and causes the most regret that it did not happen is, for me, George Foreman Vs.
It was 76 years ago today, when “Big George” Foreman was born, this in Marshall, Texas. And as everyone knows, George would eventually enjoy multiple incarnations, with him having numerous careers.
A question as old as the sport itself: what would happen if the best of the best fought one another? The question, however, takes on a whole new meaning as time goes on and eras see separation.
Retired former two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman believes that Mike Tyson possessed the combination of power and speed from another planet.
We can never know for sure, and we perhaps have no business even asking, but it’s entirely possible that if heavyweight legend George Foreman had not done what he did on this day a full 30 years ago – and that’s smash the odds and do likewise to defending heavyweight champ Michael Moorer – “Big George” would never, ever have found himself fully at peace after what happened to him in Africa some 20 years before.
Former light-heavyweight champion Montell Griffin might have known heavyweight king Muhammad Ali better than anyone. “Ice,” as Griffin was known during a ring career of his that saw him defeat, amongst others, Roy Jones, James Toney, Thomas Reid, and Randall Yonker, got to know, up close and personal, Ali from a young age.
Perhaps you, fellow fight fan, were one of the lucky people to have been present last night at Fighter’s Heaven, the fight camp that once belonged to Muhammad Ali.