Knockout machine George Foreman will forever be considered one of the greatest punchers that combat sports has ever seen.
From Foreman making history at 45 years old to stopping Joe Frazier, there were few that could last any period of time in the ring with ‘Big George’.
Becoming the heavyweight champion for the first time in 1973, Foreman’s win over Frazier was one of the great heavyweight performances.
Just one year later, Foreman would add another incredible outing to make history.
George Foreman fought Ken Norton in 1974 for the unified heavyweight title
Having claimed the Ring, WBA, and WBC World Heavyweight title against Frazier in 1974, Foreman would look to defend his belts for the second time versus Ken Norton.
Meeting in Venezuela in September 1974, Norton was challenging Foreman with a professional record of 30-2.
Coming off of a split decision loss to Muhammad Ali, it would be back-to-back losses for Norton.
Foreman lived up to the bookmaker’s odds, as the favored champion had a dominant display. In what was a short night at the office for Foreman, the heavyweight king would come out at the start of the second round brutally.
Knocking Norton down shortly after the beginning of the round, it was a quick downward spiral for the challenger. The restart would see Norton go down again against the ropes before quickly being allowed to continue.
However, a third knockdown would spell the end of the fight. Falling flat to his back, Norton tried to get back to his feet, but the referee deemed he was unfit to continue.
The knockout was one of the most brutal of Foreman’s career, aged just 25.
George Foreman would fight Muhammad Ali after Ken Norton victory
Following his win over Norton, Foreman would turn his attention to Ali, as the two faced one another in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. The pair would meet seven months after Foreman’s victory over Norton, in October 1974.
Ali was coming off of his own win over Frazier and had a record of 44-2. When the two met in Africa however, Foreman would lose his first professional fight.
After Ali whispered to Foreman, he was able to deliver a knockout blow in round eight, making ‘The Greatest’ the WBA, WBC and Ring World Heavyweight champion.
As Ali was banned from boxing in 1967 for three years, the win would see him regain his heavyweight crown for the first time since returning to the ring.