Boxing

Foreman beat time, moving from humiliation to debt collection

Published

1 year ago

March 22, 2025

When he entered public consciousness – a great man waving a small American flag, as if it was a conductor’s club – George Foreman was definitely that moment. It was 1968 at the Olympic Games in Mexico City. Chilly children, not to mention the right – American sprinter Tommie Smith and John Carlos – they took a medal with raised fists, their way to recognize America’s many years of difficulty with racial justice.

If Smith and Carlos were princes of protests – in fact, regardless of your policy, it’s demanding not to admire what they did that day – then Foreman was a completely different archetype. In the continual of boxing, the criminal from the fifth unit Houston was a “terrible guy”, the successor of Sonna Liston. Goliats is not to be loved, just feared.

And Foreman made it easier for his reputation of the crushing soul Behemoth crystallized on January 22, 1973 at the National Stadium in Kingston in Jamaica, when he fought Joe Frazier. The phrase, though massive massive, as always, was not only invincible (when there is actually something undefeated massive), he was still basking in the glow of his epic 15-Rund defeat Muhammad Ali. Despite this, Foreman put him down six times tonight-by means of an impossible call for Howard Cosell-“Down Goes Frazhuh!” – BEFORE ARTHUR MERCANTE SR. He called the merciful end to fight. It is also worth noting that with every knocking out the Don King promoter – who went to the stadium in the Frazier limousine – he physically approached the brigadier camp. Needless to say, he returned to his hotel in a limousional limousine. “I came with the champion”, King liked to say – and left with the master.

More importantly, this theatrically soulless sense of trade of the king created his characteristic promotion, almost two years in Zaire. “The Rumble in the Jungle”, as baptized, contained apparently reduced Ali (until now his jaw was broken by Ken Norton) against seemingly indestructible foreman (who sent the same Norton even faster than the phrase). What’s more, Foreman retained the same sense of tone stupidity he had at the Olympic Games in 1968: walks with his valued German Shepherd, Dago, unaware that such dogs were used as a tools of pressure by Belgian security forces, when Zaire was a colony known as Congo.

What Ali did in Zaire did is not just the most crucial example of his improvisation and strategic splendor, but his courage. Ali’s Rope-A-Dope, as you know, required Ali to absorb the best Bully arrows, in this case, most of the seven rounds before Foreman tired and removed it. Foreman fell face to face from a series of cruel right hands.

It was not the end of anyone – maybe outside Ali – he imagined. The wise man of the former Champ Archie Moore, who worked on the corner of the Brigadzist tonight, remembered in “The Fight” Norman Miler: “I prayed and, in great honesty that George would not do Ali. I really felt that it was possible.” As it turned out, the only mortality that night was the feeling of invincibility of Foreman. But a bang that he is no longer afraid is a bang. Zaire seemed to leave a psychiatric foreman distorted.

He did not fight for the next 15 months. Then, in 1977, after a unanimous defeat of the decision with a cunning, though airy striking Jimmy Teenage, he felt something as if he was dying. It was an exhausting fight on a scorching night in Puerto Rico. Maybe it was a heat stroke? No, said Foreman, it was God’s voice. He told him to retire and become a preacher in Houston, what he did.

Ten years later, his church needed money, Foreman began another return. Boxing is full of guys who fought tragically next to their first, but it was something completely different. From Don King to Jay Gatsby, this is a unique American feature, the ability to discover again. Despite this, restarting Foreman is restless remains unprecedented. Surly Bully returned fat, ecstatic and religious to start. So fat and ecstatic that he would actually set records as a seller of his title grill. Despite this, his talent for trade obstructed his historical sports achievement.

I was there on the night of November 5, 1994 at MGM Grand, when Foreman – whose “Return” has long been considered a kind of news – he fought with the heavyweight champion, Michael Moorer.

Moorer was a talented master in his physical splendor and Southpaw to run. He had a perfect stab of the corkscrew and was very well trained by Teddy Atlas, who still reminded his warrior (and all others who listened to) that Mr. Fat and Cheerful were a “cheater”.

It came to my mind that every champion worth the damn is partly Artist. But Foreman’s real ability to trick was not really observable until that night. He was two months in relation to his 46th birthday and he has not fought for 17 months, and not since the unanimous loss of decision to Tommy Morrison. For comparison, the oldest man who won the heavyweight title, Jersey Joe Walcott, was 37 when he knocked Ezzzard Charles in 1951.

No wonder that Moorer won eight of the first nine rounds, working for this complex stab of the corkscrew. Until now, Foreman’s face was uneven and marked. Still, he knew exactly what he was doing. If it were artistry, it was even Ali-Eque, his own answer, two decades, and therefore on the rope. First of all, it was a strategy that required courage and special self -confidence. So Foreman ate these stabs and hooks. If a terrible price occurred, it was one of the foreman who was ready to pay for his chance – his only chance. It started with a striking left hook, which seemed to stun Moorerera, and then an impossibly low right hand that landed on the chin of the teenage master. Moorer was counted at 2:03 10 rounds.

The renowned blow, with his right hand, he only drove. But the same whole traveled time and space, for decades and continents, from Zaire to Las Vegas, humiliation to debt collection. The teenage guy beats an ancient guy – this is the story of boxing … Anyway one of them. But Foreman was not just an ancient guy, or even the oldest (in any division, remember). Athletes are artists whose craftsmanship dies with youth. This is worse for fighters, because teenage people are literally beaten from them. But George Foreman – once a rash, a seller of barbecue gadgets and silencers – did the greatest thing that every athlete can do. He beat time.

Boxing

Dominique Francis Claims Hes Nearing World Title Contention in Zuffas Competitive Landscape

Published

1 day ago

July 23, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Dominique Francis Claims He's Nearing World Title Contention in Zuffa's Competitive Landscape

Unbeaten Dominique Francis believes he is closer to boxing’s elite than many realize as the 16-0 super featherweight contender prepares for his return under the Zuffa Boxing banner.

Francis has stopped 10 opponents during his professional career and will return on July 26 against Hector Andres Sosa at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York on Paramount+.

The Miami native has been out of action since his fourth-round knockout of Julio Carrera Lugo in October 2024, but Francis insists the time away from the ring has not changed his belief or his approach.

Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News on the eve of the fight, Francis explained why he does not fear inactivity, why he believes Zuffa has changed opportunities for fighters, and why he feels the world champions are closer than many expect.

Francis Refuses To Blame The Layoff

Francis does not believe a layoff of that nature automatically affects a fighter’s ability if the work continues behind the scenes.

“It ain’t change my mindset. You seen Floyd Mayweather fight Juan Manuel Márquezhe took 21 months off of boxing,” Francis told WBN.

“At the same time, with me, you know what I’m saying, he was as sharp as he, like sharpest he ever was. I don’t believe in all that. If you working and you inside the gym, you alright.”

Zuffa Gives Fighters More Opportunities

Francis believes joining Zuffa provides a valuable platform for fighters, but he knows his own preparation remains his responsibility.

“It’s very important, but you know, they going they going to handle that. It’s just me to do my job: stay in the gym, stay in shape, stay healthy, you know what I mean, so whenever I get a call, we can make it happen.”

The 16-0 contender is also excited about competing on Paramount+ and believes the boxing landscape is changing.

“Oh man, very I’m very thankful for this opportunity, man. The landscape changed a lot, man, ’cause you know, now you have more fighters that have opportunity now.

“They have places to go, you know what I mean? So the landscape changed a lot, they have places to go, and that’s a great thing for us fighters, man.”

Francis was pleased with his last performance against Lugo but is not looking back as he prepares for the next stage of his career.

“My last performance was good. It was a it was a good performance, but that don’t matter no more, you know what I mean? ‘Cause now it’s about this performance.”

“I’m Closer Than I Even Think”

Francis has clear ambitions for the next 12 months and believes continued improvement will put him in position for bigger opportunities.

“I want to be prosperity, to keep learning, and I want growth, definitely growth, as long as you keep going. So keep prospering and keep learning and keep growing. For sure, for sure.”

When asked about his distance from the world champions, Francis made it clear that he believes he belongs closer to the top than many might expect.

“I’m closer than I even think, and I know that. ‘Cause I be seeing a lot of things that I’ll see on TV with the top guys, whatever like that, but they’re just normal guys, man.

“They just normal guys that put in the hard work. And one thing about me, I’m a guy that put in the hard work, and I have the talent, skills, and ability.”

No Distractions Ahead Of Return

Francis believes his latest training camp has given him the ideal foundation before his return.

“This training camp was beautiful, coaching, um trajectory was very well, no distractions. No distractions at all, great recovery and understanding.”

The 25-year-old now gets the chance to prove his confidence inside the ring, with the unbeaten contender believing the next stage of his career can bring him closer to the biggest names in boxing.

Boxing

Kell Brook Evaluates Conor Benns Chances Against Ryan Garcia for World Title Fight

Published

1 day ago

July 23, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Kell Brook Evaluates Conor Benn's Chances Against Ryan Garcia for World Title Fight

Former IBF welterweight world champion, Kell Brookhas previously called for a domestic dust-up with Conor Benn. Now, ‘Special K’ has predicted how Benn will fare in his first world title challenge, against WBC titleholder, Ryan Garcia.

Benn and Brook were linked to a bout in May 2023, when the pair were pulled apart in a ringside confrontation in Dublinbut the fight never materialised, partly due to the fact that Benn had relinquished his BBBofC license following his infamous failed drugs test.

Instead, Benn twice fought stateside as a super-welterweight and then twice boxed fierce rival Chris Eubank J as a middleweight, before announcing plans to return to the welterweight division and challenge for world honours.

On his way back down to 147lbs, Benn entered the ring against Regis Prograis earlier this year in a 150lb catchweight contest and underwhelmed, but still he has landed his title shot, with a fight against Garcia now formally confirmed.

Speaking on the Fight Your Corner PodcastKell Brook looked ahead to the fight and admitted that whilst he gives Benn ‘a good chance’, he feels as though the power of Garcia means that a win for the Californian is more likely.

“I give him [Benn] a good chance, but I do lean towards Garcia winning the fight, I do. In his last fight he boxed well but in the fight before, he didn’t box so good. I just think that he will rise to the occasion, they are champions and I think that we are going to see the best of both of ‘em.

“I just think that Garcia has got that get-out-of-jail card. When I boxed Shawn Porter, I went to Vegas to finish some sparring off and I was some sparring with some good kids. I put it onto this kid and had a really good spar, I was punching hard.

“We had something to eat after and I said, who is the biggest puncher you’ve been to, don’t forget I’m a lot older than Garcia, and he said, ‘I have never been hit as hard as by Ryan Garcia,’. That punch power that he has got, that snap [is impressive].”

Garcia-Benn takes place on Saturday, September 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with undefeated cruiserweight Jai Opetaia expected to appear on the undercard.

Boxing

Tyson Fury Raises Doubts on Potential Anthony Joshua Fight: I Can Never See Him Taking That

Published

2 days ago

July 22, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Tyson Fury Raises Doubts on Potential Anthony Joshua Fight: "I Can Never See Him Taking That"

Tyson Fury has raised serious concerns over his proposed showdown with Anthony Joshua.

After over a decade of build-up, Fury and Joshua finally look set to meet later this year, provided that both men can first come through their respective warm-up bouts this weekend.

Fury takes on Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, before Joshua then meets Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia 24 hours laterseemingly paving the way for the all-British showdown at the end of 2026.

‘The Gypsy King’ still doesn’t seem convinced that it will happen though, as he shared his doubts whilst speaking to IFL TV.

“Until that fight happens and we’re walking to the ring, I’m not convinced it does. 100% [I’m doubtful].

I can never see that stiff sitting on a table with me ever. What the f**k is he going to say? I can never see him at a press conference with me, it would be a bombardment. I can never see him taking that.

“He wouldn’t even get in the ring [after the Makhmudov fight]. He s**t himself and sat on a stool outside and didn’t even want to get up and build the fight and make the fight happen when Turki said to us both ‘come on boys let’s do it get in the ring and make it happen.’

“He didn’t want to do it, so how is he going to come face to face with me at a press conference? I think he’s a bottle job, a flapper, a chinless wonder as well.”

Despite Fury’s fears, all signs still point towards the fight taking place later this year, though there still remains a debate over where it will be held.