George Foreman is held in high regard as being one of the most formidable heavyweights of all time.
The first chapter of his glittering professional career spanned eight years, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion with victories over Joe Frazier, Ken Norton and Ron Lyle.
Following a shock defeat to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman walked away from the sport and would not return until a decade later.
After experiencing financial difficulties, ‘Big’ George began his resurgence in 1987 which culminated in him becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history with a victory over Michael Moorer in 1994.
Known for his thunderous punching power, Foreman knocked out 68 of the 76 men he defeated during his tenure. Despite this, the Texan native once revealed how he vacated his heavyweight championship in an effort to avoid fighting one fighter in particular.
Speaking to Oxford Union, ‘Big’ George spoke of how he surrendered his WBA crown after he was lined up to face mandatory challenger Tony Tucker.
“They tried to force me to fight Tony Tucker after I’d beaten Michael Moorer and I remember looking at Tony Tucker and saying ‘momma didn’t raise no fools’.
I’m not fighting him, and they took the titles. Some people I’m not going to fight. That’s the good reason, I didn’t want to fight him. Too tough. I’ve got to tell the truth.”
Tucker is known for having the shortest reign of any IBF heavyweight champion in history, after he lost his crown to Mike Tyson having held it for just 64 days.
Tyson defeated ‘TNT’ via unanimous decision in August 1987 to add the IBF strap to his collection. Tucker went on to challenge for the heavyweight title on several more occasions during his career, but fell short to Lennox Lewis, Bruce Seldon and Herbie Hide.
