What George Foreman accomplished in boxing will likely never be repeated.
The thudding puncher from Marshall, Texas, competed across four decades in the heavyweight division, displaying a fearsome power that puts him in the conversation with some of the biggest hitters the sport has ever seen.
Following a world title winning stint in the seventies, Foreman lost his status to Muhammad Ali in The Rumble in the Jungle and grew tired of waiting for another shot. He retired in ’77. After a decade out, he returned and in 1994, aged 45, beat young gun Michael Moorer to become the oldest champion in the division’s history – a record yet to be matched or beaten.
Whilst there’s no replacing him, one current fighter has caught attention as possessing the same sort of attributes – Martin Bakole. The Congo-born big man has long claimed to have gotten the better of the division’s top dogs in sparring but only recently put in a performance on the big stage to capture the world’s attention.
He defeated rising American star Jared Anderson in five rounds last month in Los Angeles, letting shots bounce off him as he threw painful uppercuts and thumping combinations to beat the fight out of the 24-year-old.
On his podcast, Teddy Atlas first made the comparison after dismissing Bakole’s chances pre-fight.
“And I’ll tell ya, Bakole did look like George Foreman. Big, strong, set his feet, let Anderson make mistakes then he timed him. He showed experience, determination, a hunger, a pride to make it for his country. He’s [31], he knows now’s the time to do it and he did it. I hope he becomes heavyweight champ, that’s how much he impressed me, and that’s how much I want to apologise for being wrong about him.”
World champ turned promoter Oscar De La Hoya also likened Bakole to ‘Big’ George in an interview with FightHype.
“I felt pretty bad for Jared who got knocked out against a beast. I mean, that kid reminded me of George Foreman. Heavy-handed. Big. I feel Jared will be back. It was a great fight, no shame in his game, he’s a great fighter.”
Finally, Paulie Malignaggi saw the similarities too whilst discussing the Anderson bout on Pro Box TV.
“He can punch, he’s exciting, he holds his ground as we saw in the Jared Anderson fight … Honestly he’s pretty quick for a big guy. He puts these big clubbing shots together à la old school George Foreman but at the same time he’s got a good snap, good quickness, a bit of deceptive speed. I wouldn’t mind seeing him against just about anybody. I don’t know if he can become a world champion, I wouldn’t go that far. He maybe can contend for one. I’d like to see him trying no less.”
