22.05.07 – By Wray Edwards: Former Heavyweight Champion of the World George Foreman is making the talk show rounds to promote his book “God In My Corner”. He appeared on the Fox News show Hannity and Colmes to discuss his Boxing career, spiritual beliefs and family life. Of special interest to Boxing fans were his remarks about the famous contest he had in Zaire in the 1974 “Rumble In The Jungle.”
George, who is never at a loss for words, exercised his friendly infomercial style and elected to highlight and discus, among other topics, his belief that he was slipped a Mickey in the dressing room just before entering the ring to face the “Rope-a-Dope”. Here is part of this amazing interview:
George is welcomed to the show.
Colmes: “There was a piece on page six of the New York Post the other day saying that you might have been secretly drugged to lose to Muhammad Ali in your 1974 Rumble in the Jungle.”
George: “…??…thirty years back I went into the dressin’ room and I have a ceremony where I only drink water…’cause I go a day without water, and this time I told my manager, ‘Hey, hey, hey look…there’s medicine in this water.’ …???…water’s always…he bluff me and I drank some more to make him tell me that…I drank some more…’there’s medicine in the water.’ And the worst medicine was out there watin’ on me in the ring…Muhammad Ali.”
Colmes (skeptical): “You really think there’s really something…and who would have put something in that water?”
George: I, I really don’t know, but I knew they weren’t chemists. They coulda killed me a buncha…you know…”
Colmes (interrupting): “Somebody on your side, somebody on Ali’s side, somebody snuck up and put something in there what…”
George: “I think it was a guy was working with me. I really do.”
Colmes: “You think a guy on your side was taking money from the other side?”
George: “I just don’t know. But I…the good thing is I’m still alive.
Then they discussed a spiritual awakening George had after a fight he had with Jimmy Young.
Then Sean Hannity chimed in for his portion of the interview.
Sean: “Good to see you my friend…in reading your book…one of the things I found most fascinating you said…you talked about earning all this money five million dollars when you battled Muhammad Ali, and then you said after you lost that fight ‘I hated him. I have never despised anyone more than that man…after I lost the fight I would have loved nothing more than to kill him. It motivated me. (George, interrupting: “Can you Imagine walk…”)…with that anger…”
George: “Can you imagine walkin’ around with a five million dollars…more money at that time than anybody had ever seen, and all I could enjoy was the hate. Couldn’t even count the money and buy cheeseburgers; Just wanted to get even. And ah…that’s how my whole life was dedicated to getting that one fight to get that revenge. And ah, hopefully, I’m gonna kill this guy. That’s all I wanted to do.”
Sean: “And you’re talkin’ outside the ring after the fight was over here…you have now made up and you have since become very dear friends…close friends…you stay in touch all the time.”
George: “Yeah Muhammad Ali’s become the best friend I have ever had. As a matter of fact he was always my good friend. I remember the best punch that was never thrown in that boxing match was…I was on my way down when he hit me with the right, hand and he coulda caught me with another (“Yeah”) and he never threw it. He coulda finished me as all fighters do. He never hit me with the punch he coulda finished me off with. What a great man.”
There were then brief remarks about Geoge’s poverty in childhood and the interview was over.
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away George. There are many unique personalities in Boxing, and certainly George is a top ten ranker in my book. Interesting. See you at the fights.