George Foreman is an icon of boxing who has faced the best of the best, but there was one name he decided to leave off his resume.
Foreman made history at 45 years of age when he became heavyweight boxing’s oldest-ever champion. Defeating Michael Moorer via knockout, his punch would change the sport forever.
However, Foreman has many accolades that make him a legend of boxing. From his epic bout with Muhammad Ali in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle,’ to facing the likes of Joe Frazier and Evander Holyfield, Foreman will be remembered in boxing forever.
However, there was one fighter that Foreman did not want the task of sharing the ring with.
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George Foreman refused heavyweight challenge after winning the belt
Despite a 10-year absence from the sport, Foreman was able to claim the heavyweight title, at age 45. Defeating Moorer by knockout in 1994, ‘Big George’s’ next challenge was not necessarily one that interested him.
After claiming the heavyweight crown, Foreman was going to be set to face Tony Tucker to defend his IBF World Heavyweight title. However, this was not a bout that Foreman welcomed.
When Foreman defeated Moorer, Tucker was a 51-2 professional, with 42 knockouts. He claimed the IBF World Heavyweight title in 1987, defeating ‘Buster’ Douglas. However, would lose his belt to Mike Tyson in his next fight.
Speaking on the potential fight, Foreman told Oxford Union that he had no intentions of facing the mandatory challenger.
“They tried to force me to fight Tony Tucker after I’d beaten Michael Moorer and I remember looking at Tony Tucker and saying ‘Momma didn’t raise no fools’.
I’m not fighting him, and they took the titles. Some people I’m not going to fight. That’s the good reason, I didn’t want to fight him. Too tough. I’ve got to tell the truth.”
Foreman was ultimately stripped of his title due to his refusal to fight.
George Foreman would compete until the age of 48
It was an incredible achievement for Foreman to achieve heavyweight glory at the age of 45, however, he would go on to have another four fighters after making history.
Despite having been stripped for not facing Tucker, Foreman continued to fight, with a record of 3-1 in his final four bouts.
His final performance would come against Shannon ‘The Cannon’ Briggs when the two met in Atlantic City in 1997.
The last appearance of Foreman’s incredible career would not be a successful one, as he was bested via majority decision.
However, ‘Big George’ was able to maintain success in a post-boxing career. Foreman’s grills resulted in huge profits for the fighter after the design was released in 1994 and remained successful for decades.