George Foreman is one of the greatest fighters to have ever graced the sport.
The heavyweight icon rose to fame during the mid 1970s, becoming the world heavyweight champion for the first time when he defeated Joe Frazier in 1973.
He made a handful of successful title defences before he was eventually dethroned by Muhammad Ali in ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’ just one year later.
After suffering another shock defeat to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman made the decision to walk away from boxing and pursue a career as a preacher. He did however make a sensational comeback ten years later after experiencing financial difficulty.
He challenged unsuccessfully for the world title on two occasions against Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison respectively, but was successful at the third attempt when he faced Michael Moorer in November 1994.
‘Big’ George knocked Moorer out in the tenth round of their showdown which was contested for the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history at 46 years and 169 days old.
It was one of the most iconic moments in boxing history, but Foreman once revealed that he would have avoided making a comeback to the sport if there was any possibility that he would have been matched with one fighter in particular.
Speaking on social media, Foreman paid homage to the late, great former undisputed middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
“So glad this guy was not a heavyweight, never would I have come back.”
Hagler made twelve successful defences of his middleweight crown between the years of 1980 and 1987, defeating the likes of Roberto Duran, John Mugabi and Thomas Hearns during this period.
It wasn’t until April 1987 when he was dethroned by fellow all-time-great Sugar Ray Leonard in what would go on to be the final fight of his glittering career.
