"George Foreman: A Giant Among The Greats"

If there was one boxing legend and all-time great man I wanted to meet, 
George Foreman would be on my list. For that opportunity won't 
happen; as "Big George" passed away at the age of 76 years-old. In a 
sport where dominance is earned, Foreman was able to do that and 
more in his illustrious boxing career. 

In the ring, he competed against fellow competitors in Joe Frazier and 
Muhammad Ali. It wasn't until 1968 where he became a household 
name by winning the heavyweight division during the 1968 summer 
Olympics. Getting into the professional realm afterwards, he stunned   
boxing fans in a second-round knockout of undefeated Joe Frazier in 
1973. His career was taking flight and all of it would come full circle in 
1974.

It was monikered "Rumble in The Jungle," as he went against another 
great in Ali during 1974. One of the greatest fights of two fighters whose 
rise to fame came with big honors. It was the first loss of Foreman's 
career and losing to Ali. In what was a moment of truth, he retired after a 
loss to Jimmy Young during a bout in 1977. 
Post boxing retirement, he became an ordained Christian minister. 
Another way to stay in the shadows was preaching his proclaimed faith. 
As he did with boxing, ministering was another chapter of his life and 
continued reinventing himself as a man. You can't fault this by any 
means. Foreman had gave his best years to a sport and became 
successful.

In a twist of events, Foreman announced a boxing comeback at age 45; 
1994 to be exact like he never left the ring. Winning the unified WBA, 
IBF and lineal heavyweight championship titles by knocking out an 

upcoming star in 26 year-old Michael Moorer. Even at age 46 and 169 
days old, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history. 
He was back to reclaim his throne as a great boxer and beating the 
odds which came with it.

Foreman officially retired in 1997 at age 48; registering 76 wins (68 by 
knockout) and 5 losses. After an illustrious career, he was inducted into 
the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He stayed around the sport as a 
ringside analyst for HBO's boxing coverage for 12 years. As his boxing 
career was accomplished, he became an entrepreneur by selling the 
household appliance "George Foreman Grill."
The grill sold more than 100 million units; as people ran to retail stores 
and supported this venture. Ranging from a small size to eventually a
grill big enough to cook outdoors with the same specs. It was successful
and he sold the commercial rights to his masterpiece for $138 million
dollars. Boxing, ministry and entrepreneurship succeeded in many
ways. Foreman was a great man beyond measures.

As the boxing world mourns a tremendous loss of Foreman, his legacy
is a man who reinvented himself beyond the sport and reclaimed his
throne as a dominant presence. You can be good or great, Foreman
was among the greatest boxers of his generation. Among the giants in
Ali, Frazier, his name is right there in stone.

From all of us here at The Gryd Network, we send our deepest
condolences to The Foreman Family.