by James Slater – Continuing taking baby steps in his pro career is heavyweight wannabe George Foreman III, son of course, of the legendary two-time world champion from Texas. Nicknamed “Monk,” the 6’5,” approx 230-pound Foreman won for the eighth straight time last night, as he despatched yet another no-hoper in ridiculously easy fashion.
Taking on one Bobby Pickett, a complete unknown from Arkansas who sported a 0-2 record coming in, Foreman put his man down two times in the opening round with body shots, and then, only seconds in to the 2nd-round, Pickett opted to retire.. Pickett (a fighter very little is known about – Boxrec.com do not even have his age, weight, height or stance listed), had lost his two previous bouts by stoppage, and, once again, Foreman proved almost nothing with this win.
With no amateur experience at all, it’s only natural 61-year-old “Big” George Foreman is going to take no chances with his son, and it’s safe to say we can expect more fights the calibre of last night’s as a result. Yet to be extended beyond the 2nd-round, Foreman has only met one guy with a winning record. Now 8-0(8), the impressively-built hope hasn’t even had his chin grazed yet either.
Progressing at a snail’s pace is fine if that’s what Foreman Senior wants, but at some point Foreman III is going to have to fight someone with a pulse. When that happens who knows what will happen. It’s likely most fans didn’t even know Foreman was in action last night, so low-key has his career been thus far. And maybe that’s the way the Foremans want it.
Foreman Senior, of course, took a similar approach in his second career; when he fought relative no-name after no-name when pushing the age of 40. And George proved that the quantity over quality approach worked just fine for him. But then we knew Foreman Senior had the stuff needed for when the time to step up in quality of opposition came. At the rate he’s going (a pro now for over a year), we’ll never find out if “Monk” will be able to do the same.
For the record, Foreman III’s fight last night came after the longest inactive spell of his fledgling career. After having taken care of the debuting Dale Mitchell in April, Foreman saw a couple of fights fall through. No spring chicken at age 27, Foreman will have to make his move soon if he’s to advance into anything like a prospect.
And let’s face it, the odds are against him making it. We have a number of “boxing juniors” attempting to make a name for themselves in their own right, and with the exception of Julio Cesar Chavez’s son, none of them are doing too well. And Foreman Junior, following in the footsteps of one of the most beloved and great heavyweights of all time, really has some fighter to live up to. Best of luck to him!