WITH his formidable power and ruthless style, George Foreman crafted a career that will be celebrated and revered over the span of many years still to come.
Him beating Michael Moorer for the world heavyweight title at the age of 45 is, after all, universally considered to be one of the all-time greatest sporting achievements.
But of course, there were two different versions of ‘Big George,’ one which could only be described as a truly menacing operator and the other, a far more lovable character.
In any case, both chapters of his life as a boxer saw the emergence of several historic victories, with five of which remaining particularly extraordinary.
George Foreman vs Ron Lyle
In his first outing after an iconic Rumble in the Jungle with Muhammad Ali, Foreman picked up his third Ring Magazine ‘Fight of the Year’ award in what proved to be an enthralling seesaw battle with Ron Lyle.
And yet, in the fifth round of their encounter at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Foreman ended proceedings, as he so often did, in truly devastating fashion, leaving an exhausted Lyle slumped on the canvas.
George Foreman vs Ken Norton
Just over seven months before his eighth-round stoppage defeat to Ali, Foreman had, without question, established himself as one of the most ferocious heavyweights of all time.
Contributing to that reputation was his emphatic second-round finish over Ken Norton who, after tasting the puncher’s destructive power on three occasions, was ultimately stopped on his feet in Caracas, Venezuela.
George Foreman vs Joe Frazier 2
Just as he always did, Joe Frazier wasted little time before setting a hellacious pace to his rematch with Foreman.
But while he would always drill his compact frame into tremendous shape, the one thing that ‘Smokin’ Joe’ could never prepare for was his opponent’s thundering left hook, which sent him crashing to the canvas in the fifth round before their squeal reached its natural conclusion.
Michael Moorer vs George Foreman
With Foreman returning to the ring following a near 10-year layoff, few expected the physically softer and less intimidating American to claim another heavyweight crown.
But then, over a decade on from making his comeback, the fan-friendly 45-year-old dethroned IBF champion Michael Moorer – taking his unbeaten record – with a stunning tenth-round stoppage victory.
Joe Frazier vs George Foreman
While he had amassed a string of highlight-reel knockouts, Foreman entered his first fight with Frazier as a relatively unproven heavyweight contender.
When the pair collided in 1973, though, it just so happened to be the night where Foreman not only claimed Frazier’s WBC title but also became arguably the most feared man on the planet.
More than anything, his second-round stoppage in Kingston, Jamaica, saw him emerge from the shadows and amplify his global profile.
