‘Big’ George Foreman Returns Ringside

CHICAGO (August 1, 2005)—Promoter Don King announced today his longtime friend “Big” George Foreman has accepted his invitation to be an analyst for his pay-per-view boxing telecast of Global Glory at the United Center on Aug. 13. The main event, for the interim World Boxing Council heavyweight championship, pits former unified heavyweight world champion and No. 1-ranked WBC contender Hasim “The Rock” Rahman against WBC No. 2-ranked contender Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett..

“George was with me in the beginning of my boxing career, including at the Rumble in the Jungle in Kinshasa, Zaire, back in 1974,” King said. “He stood up for me during a time and climate when it wasn’t apropos for a brother to stand up for a fellow brother, and we made history together. Now he’s standing up for me again on Aug. 13 in Chicago. He’s an American original—the exception, not the rule of thumb.”

Foreman said the timing is right for him to participate in the event.

‘I was as hungry as the days when I needed a cheeseburger when Don called,” Foreman quipped when asked why he decided to make a return to broadcasting. “Seriously, Don and I are great friends. He is the best promoter in history and he promoted many of my biggest world title fights. It’s a great opportunity for me to come back with Don and to touch base with boxing fans. I have missed that.”

Global Glory is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with the United Center and will be produced for television broadcast by KingVision and domestically distributed by SHOWTIME Pay Per View at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with a suggested retail price of $39.95 and is being distributed internationally by DK International Sales, a division of Don King Productions.

Additional matches included in the domestic telecast will be hard-punching former unified world welterweight champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga facing former International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo for the vacant WBC super welterweight title; World Boxing Association welterweight champion Luis Collazo defending his crown against Italian champion Luca Messi; and the Polish Fight of the Century with Andrew Golota taking on Przemyslaw “Chemek” Saleta.

Foreman will be joined by blow-by-blow announcer Barry Tompkins, fellow analyst Rich Marotta, host Jim Hill, and locker room reporter JT “The Brick.”