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Foreman’s Legacy
By George this “champ” is a lady
It is reasonable safe to assume that
everybody in the known, civilized, universe knows the George Foreman story
(that surprisingly has yet to become a movie), even if they aren’t into
boxing, or any other sport. The George Foreman story, however, transcends
sports, insofar as the rise and fall of a confused delinquent, young African
warrior-- only to rise again-- speaks of the human spirit; a search for
truth and meaning for a mis spent life; an all consuming faith in a God of
second chances… and finally. A born again man emerging as not only the
heavyweight champion of the world at 45, but his people’s greatest champ.
For sure, the story of “Big George’s,” first life reads like a Hollywood
script, but his second life takes on a supernatural aura, that becomes a
testimony to the salient fact that God is, indeed, good. Insofar as the
Fifth Ward thug, aka “Monk,” has long since faded into history, although his
eventful journey from the mean streets of Houston, Texas’ Fifth Ward to
Rome, Italy where he… not only became an Olympic heavyweight champion, but
won the hearts of America-- by waving an America flag--at a time when three
African American athletes had defiantly raised clinched fist (to symbolize
“Black Power”), as their nation’s anthem was being played. The stuff that
dreams are made of not withstanding, if George’s story had ended at that
moment, it still would have been worthy of a movie itself, but the best was
yet to come.
A synopsis of Foreman’s amazing sojourn-- to hell and back-- usually starts
when he was young, lean, and angry. The same anger that had led him astray
as a youth, once again worked in his favor when he beat Joe Frazier for the
world heavyweight boxing championship in 1973. The next year he lost the
title to Muhammad Ali in an epic bout in Zaire called the "Rumble in the
Jungle." Foreman dropped from the public eye for years and devoted himself
to his religious ministry, but in the 1990s he returned to the ring
transformed into a rotund, jovial fighter who somehow beat Michael Moorer in
1994 to regain the heavyweight crown at age 45. His subsequent self-mocking
commercials for hamburgers and mufflers made him even more famous.
Foreman retired again after a 1997 loss to Shannon Briggs, but his fame was
intact: he made millions as a TV pitchman for a low-fat cooking gadget
called the George Foreman Grill. In February of 2004, Foreman announced that
he intended to return for one more fight, this time as a 55-year-old
grandfather, in honor of the 30th anniversary of his rumble with Ali.
Meanwhile, one has cause to pause and ponder why one of the five George’s
that Foreman had named after him would take the baton from his father and
keep his legacy alive. Well wonder no more, because one of George’s 10
offspring has a very real passion for boxing and has already stepped into
the ring. But, by George it’s a Lady!
Nevertheless, Big George has grudgingly given his blessing to Frieda George
Foreman, although he had mixed emotions when he learned that one of his five
daughters, rather than his five sons would keep the Foreman legacy alive. “I
am so happy I made the decision to get into boxing,” Frieda told African
American News & Issues, during a press conference to announce her
involvement in the 2004 Gulf USA Amateur Boxing Tournament. “Boxing is one
of the best sports ever.” One suspects that George has his fingers crossed
that his daughter will find it more fulfilling to teach kids to box as she
does when she steps into the ring, therefore he was all for her
collaboration with Rev. Ray Martin, “Houston’s First Fighting Preacher,” to
host one of the biggest amateur boxing tournaments in the nation.
“Since we will be celebrating our 35th year as an inner-city juvenile crime
prevention program (promoting youth development through self disciple), I
think God pre-ordained it for us to hold the tournament at the George
Foreman Youth Center, on May 21-22, 2004 and it’s an added blessing to work
with Frieda, who is an outstanding person in her own right,” Rev. Ray said
that during a press conference announced that PABA had once again won the
bid to host the prestigious Gulf USA Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament ,
that will be held at George Foreman’s facility at 2202 Lone Oak, in
Northeast Houston. Frieda certainly agrees with Rev. Ray, insofar as she
says, “Thanks to boxing I was able to get in the best shape of my life. Also
thanks to boxing I have been able to go through doors that were once closed
to me.”
Frieda, who certainly understands the dynamics of boxing, further explained,
“As a pro boxer myself, I have seen the importance of having an amateur
background. Some of the best fighters today are successful because of their
amateur experience. One of the main reasons I started putting on local
amateur shows at my father’s youth center is to give fighters a chance to
acquire as much experience as they can get. That way they can build the
confidence they will need when they turn pro. There are certain things in
amateur boxing that’s very important. Things like wearing headgear. It’s a
scary thing to see a person get into the ring with no experience and no
headgear. I can’t stop a fighter from going pro without the foundation of
amateur boxing, but I can be part of creating an opportunity for a fighter
to participate in a top notched amateur program.”
And top notched amateur boxing is exactly what one will witness when they
attend the May 21-22, 2004 tournament at Foreman’s Youth Center. The winners
of the Gulf USA Tournament will advance to the Texas Regional Junior
Olympics that will be held June 4th, 5th & 6th in San Antonio, Texas. The
winners in that event will advance to the National Junior Olympics that will
be held on June 20-26, 2004, in Brownsville, Texas. For information call
(713) 520-9585.
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