George Foreman, a two-time heavyweight champion of the world, passed away on Friday at the age of 76. No cause of death has been released.
Foreman won the heavyweight championship two decades apart. I was in my infancy when Foreman obliterated Joe Frazier in the ring to win his first title and in early toddlerhood when Foreman succumbed to Muhammad Ali in Zaire.
When I think of Foreman, I think of his comeback which he launched in 1987, a decade after his last fight. I remember my parents being horrified. Foreman was out of shape and possibly destined to sustain the kind of damage which would impair Ali's speech. Others just mocked Foreman.
But Foreman persevered and proved everyone wrong. He truly reinvented himself. Known for his sullen aloofness in his younger years, his religious awakening brought out a sweeter disposition. But behind that sweeter disposition remained a steely resolve.
This steely resolve served him well in his 1991 fight with Evander Holyfield. Although Holyfield won the fight decisively, Foreman stood his ground and held his own for 12 rounds. Respect had replaced ridicule.
Still, few could have imagined more than three years later, Foreman would knock out Michael Moorer (a man nearly 20 years younger) to once again become heavyweight champion of the world at the age of 45.
Foreman's life was a movie and would eventually be made into one in 2023 with Khris Davis impressively capturing Foreman in the early and later stages of his life.
He also sold a lot of grills.
George Foreman lived a wonderful life which will be duly rewarded in the great ring in the sky. R.I.P.
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