“We were facetiming before he passed away…” George Foreman reveals HEART-MELTING story of ‘falling in love’ with Muhammad Ali despite ugly trash talks
Legendary boxer George Foreman spoke about his love for Muhammad Ali and the last time he saw him.
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George Foreman and Muhammad Ali (image credit- The Mirror)
George Foreman and Muhammad Ali are the most prominent and well-known heavyweight champions. Due to their intense rivalry, many regarded their prime as the ‘golden era’ of heavyweight boxing. Furthermore, Ali proved to be one of Foreman’s most formidable opponents in his entire career. Subsequently, Foreman has a record of 76-5-0 with 68 KOs, and out of his five losses, he was knocked out once.
This knockout loss came at the hands of his rival Ali in 1974 at the Rumble in the Jungle bout. The fight was a highly competitive fight, and both fighters fought valiantly. However, Muhammad Ali emerged victorious. Furthermore, years after the fight, Foreman was asked in an interview why he apologized to Ali even though he was trash-talking. Foreman revealed that Ali tried to win a boxing match, but he was trying to kill Ali. In addition, Foreman stated:
We started face-timing before he passed away; we'd love each other. He'd love to eat and joke. 'George, how many grandkids do you have?' I said three. 'I have five,' always wanted to win, always wanted to compete.George Foreman on Muhammad Ali
Foreman stated that after he found religion, it transformed him. Foreman said he regretted the intentions he had toward Ali inside the ring. However, they became the closest friends and treated each other like brothers. Most athletes in combat sports become friends after retirement, other than a few.
Combat sports fans could learn a lesson from the story of Ali and Foreman. Hate can blind oneself, but not love. Furthermore, before Ali passed away, they Facetimed each other and had wholesome conversations and jokes. Subsequently, Foreman stated that he loved Ali and mentioned that he was an extraordinary person to be around.
Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman
The legendary boxing match between Foreman and Ali took place on October 30, 1974. At the time, Foreman was the undefeated heavyweight champion and was known for his powerful punching and aggressive fighting style. Ali, on the other hand, was attempting to regain the heavyweight title that he had been stripped of for several years.
Furthermore, this was done earlier due to his refusal to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Subsequently, in the fight, Foreman initially dominated, using his powerful punches to control the early rounds. However, Ali employed a strategy called “rope-a-dope,” where he leaned back against the ropes.
In the eighth round, Ali unleashed a series of powerful punches, culminating in a right hook known as the “phantom punch,” which knocked Foreman down. Foreman failed to beat the count, and Ali was declared the winner by knockout. Hence, Ali’s victory in the Rumble in the Jungle is considered one of the greatest upsets in boxing history.
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Abhijay Roy
(551 Articles Published)