George Foreman was 28 fights into his comeback from a 10-year absence from the ring, had won 27 times, stopped 25 of his opponents, and failed during his first attempt at winning a heavyweight title.
But Foreman wasn't going to blow his second chance at world championship glory, when he faced southpaw Michael Moorer.
This time, the 45-year-old grandfather and father of nine was ready.
Foreman, 60, talks about his historic accomplishment as well as life after boxing during this, the fourth and final installment of a four-part series detailing how he became boxing's oldest man to win a division's crown.
George Foreman still has fond memories of that night 15 years ago tomorrow, when he stopped Michael Moorer to become boxing's oldest heavyweight champion at the age of 45.
But it took losses to Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison to make the aging fighter to leave behind, ever-so-briefly, the commercialism brought on by the notoriety and cross-over appeal of his comeback.
Only then, as Foreman recalls in this, the third installment of a four-part series, could he focus solely on capitalizing for that legendary and historical moment.
With Thursday being the 15th anniversary of his 10th-round knockout of Michael Moorer -- which made him, at age 45, the oldest man to become heavyweight champion -- George Foreman reminisced about his comeback from a 10-year hiatus from boxing.
An evangelist for his non-denominational, Church of Jesus Christ, Foreman, 60, recalls the reaction of his wife, Mary, to the news that he was un-retiring, how trainers such as former light heavyweight champion, Archie Moore and Angelo Dundee, re-structured and modified his style, and how a victory over Steve Zouski began a run of 24 straight wins, including 23 knockouts during this, the second installment of a four-part Q&A series.
Thursday marks the 15th anniversary of George Foreman's dethroning of Michael Moorer with a 10th-round knockout, making him the oldest man to earn a heavyweight title.
Foreman, 60, was knocked out by Muhammad Ali in The Rumble In The Jungle 35 years ago this past Friday.
There was a 10-year span between Foreman's first retirement -- following a unanimous decision loss to Jimmy Young on March 17, 1977 -- and his return to the ring with a fourth-round knockout of Steve Zouski on March 9, 1987.
Beginning with this, the first installment of a four-part series, Foreman discusses his transformation from a stoic, surly brawler, to philanthropic evangelist, to a patient and more cerebral fighter who left his mark in boxing history by dominating younger men.
Boxing publicist Bill Caplan has known George Foreman forever.
Caplan was there when an 19-year-old Foreman won the gold medal in the 1968 Olympics, and through Foreman's two stints as world heavyweight champion.
Caplan was there when a 45-year-old Foreman became the division's oldest champion by stopping Michael Moorer 15 years ago this coming Thursday. And of course, Caplan was there in Zaire, 35 years ago, when Foreman was dethroned by Muhammad Ali's "Rope-a-Dope" in Kinshasa, Zaire.
After the jump, Caplan, 74, talks about Foreman's journey to, and their experience in Zaire, and how it ties into his achievement against Moorer.
George Foreman was not supposed to defend his crown against Muhammad Ali in Africa until Sept. 10, 1974, but New York Post columnist Larry Merchant had arrived in Kinshasa, Zaire, several days prior to what he called "the crush" of other international media members.
"I had actually gone over there earlier in order to write a book about it. I was there for a couple of weeks," said Merchant, now a renowned 78-year-old HBO boxing analyst.
"As a matter of fact, I was in the gym when Foreman was sparring and got the cut," said Merchant. "I believe that I called the [New York] Post and I told them that I thought that the fight would have to be postponed."
TAMPA, Fla. -- With eyes fixated on perspiration-soaked, WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto's workout, Bob Arum surveyed his latest promotional responsibility at The Fight Factory gymnasium like an artist appreciating his most recent piece.
"Miguel is just a fighter with great, great heart," said Arum, whose 42 years in boxing began with the Muhammad Ali victory over George Chuvalo -- his first of 26 fights involving the man many call "The Greatest" -- and included the George Foreman comeback.
FanHouse caught up with Arum on Tuesday during Cotto's training in Florida for his Nov. 14 defense against Manny Pacquiao to discuss the futures of Cotto, Pacquiao, and several other fighters he promotes.
When it comes to experience, no fighter in the Showtime World Boxing Classic Super Six Tournament has more than Jermain Taylor.
In fact, over the course of his past 12 bouts, the 31-year-old super middleweight (168 pounds) has faced a schedule that may be classified as infinitely more difficult than any in the entire sport.
Eleven of Taylor's last 12 matchups have been against men who were either world champs at the time they met him, or, who were once world titlists.
At age 78, boxing promoter Don King is still at it.
The man who brought the world "The Rumble In The Jungle" on Oct. 30, in 1974, featuring Muhammad Ali's dramatic, eighth-round knockout of George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, will celebrate that event's 35th anniversary on Halloween with the first-ever, boxing event to be held at Las Vegas' Treasure Island.
That's when IBF bantamweight (118 pounds) titlist Joseph Agbeko (27-1, 22 knockouts) will put his crown on the line against Colombia native Yonnhy Perez (19-0, 14 KOs) of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., as part of an event to be televised on Showtime.
"This event at Treasure Island is going to be a great festival. I'm bringing the eighth wonder of the world to Las Vegas, King Kong," said King, referring to the nickname given Agbeko for his ferocity in the ring.
If Evander Holyfield wins a Nov. 8 bout in Jeju Island, South Korea, the 46-year-old former four-time champion could position himself for a title fight against World Boxing Council champion Vitali Klitschko, organization president, Jose Sulaiman told FanHouse on Monday night.
"I believe that Evander Holyfield is one of the best heavyweight fighters of the last quarter century," said Sulaiman, adding that the fight would take place on the final day of the WBC's Nov. 1-8 convention in Jeju Island.
"Everybody in China, Korea, Japan and all of Asia, they talk very highly of Evander Holyfield," said Sulaiman. "The convention committee is looking to have him in that fight on the final day of their meetings, and we're looking to help him to get back on track."
George Foreman was 28 fights into his comeback from a 10-year absence from the ring, had won 27 times, stopped 25 of his opponents, and failed during his first attempt at winning a heavyweight title.
George Foreman
Thursday marks the 15th anniversary of 
Boxing publicist Bill Caplan has known 
George Foreman
TAMPA, Fla. -- With eyes fixated on perspiration-soaked, WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto's workout, Bob Arum surveyed his latest promotional responsibility at The Fight Factory gymnasium like an artist appreciating his most recent piece.
When it comes to experience, no fighter in the Showtime World Boxing Classic Super Six Tournament has more than 
At age 78, boxing promoter 
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