[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1607-E1608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          BOXING GREAT AND HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION GEORGE FOREMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to recognize one of boxing's 
most feared fighters, Mr. George Foreman. We are near the same age, and 
I have been a fan since I was a kid.
  A product of a less fortunate family, Houstonian George Foreman was 
in constant trouble with the law. He vowed to make a better life for 
himself and later joined the Job Corp. While stationed in Oregon, 
Foreman became infamous for picking fights with fellow trainees. It was 
then that his fighting skills were noticed and he was introduced to the 
sport of boxing, which he grew to love. Foreman got his start as an 
amateur from the AAU in San Francisco.
  At the age of 19, Foreman won a gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City 
Olympic Games. He won his first fight on points and then three fights 
by stoppage--including the final title bout against the favored Soviet 
fighter. After winning the gold, Forman walked around the ring, holding 
high a small American flag following his victory. Some people chastised 
him for his display; others, however, lauded him for being a patriotic 
American during a time of political upheaval and strife. Madam Speaker, 
this was the most patriotic moment I had ever seen.
  Foreman, after an amazing amateur record of 27-0, turned professional 
in 1969 with a three-round knockout of Donald Walheim in New York. He 
had 12 fights that year, winning all of them, 11 by knockout. Among the 
fighters he defeated was Cookie Wallace, who lasted only 23 seconds.
  In 1970, Foreman continued his journey toward the undisputed 
heavyweight title. In 1971, he won seven more fights. After amassing a 
record of 32-0, Foreman ranked as the number one challenger by the 
World Boxing Association and Council. In 1972, his string of wins 
continued with a series of five consecutive bouts in which he defeated 
each opponent within three rounds.
  Still undefeated, and with an impressive knockout record, Foreman was 
set to challenge undefeated and undisputed world heavyweight champion 
Joe Frazier. Foreman knocked down Frazier six times in two rounds to 
win the championship by knockout in one of boxing's biggest upsets. In 
what was HBO Boxing's first broadcast, the call made by Howard Cosell 
became one of the most memorable in all of sports: ``Down goes Frazier! 
Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!'' Before the fight, Frazier was 
29-0, with 25 knockouts, and Foreman was 37-0, with 34 knockouts. 
Equally memorable was Foreman's final punch, an uppercut, landed with 
such force that it lifted Frazier off his feet before sending him to 
the canvas for the sixth and final time. As he had done following the 
previous knockdowns, Frazier managed to get to his feet, but the 
referee called an end to the bout.
  Nevertheless, Foreman went on to defend his title successfully twice 
during his initial reign as champion. His first defense, in Tokyo, 
pitted him against Puerto Rican heavyweight champion Jose Roman. Roman 
was not regarded as a top contender, and it took Foreman only 55 
seconds to end the fight, the fastest-ever knockout for a heavyweight 
championship bout. Foreman's next defense was against a much tougher 
opponent. In 1974, he faced the highly regarded Ken Norton who was 30-
2, a boxer notorious for his awkward boxing style. Norton's ability to 
``take a punch'' was suspect, and Foreman put him to the test. In an 
astonishing display of aggression and punching power, Foreman knocked 
out Norton in just two rounds. The win made Foreman 40-0 with 37 
knockouts.
  After losing his title to Muhammad Ali in 1974, Foreman remained 
inactive during 1975. In 1976, he returned to boxing in Las Vegas 
against Ron Lyle. After a very intense and extensive struggle by both 
fighters, the fight was stopped and Foreman was declared the winner. 
For his next bout, Foreman chose to face Joe Frazier in a rematch. 
Frazier at this point was 32-3 and Foreman was 41-1, but people doubted 
Foreman's ability. Unable to mount a significant offense, Frazier was 
eventually floored twice by Foreman in the fifth round and the fight 
was stopped. Next, Foreman knocked out Scott Ledoux in three and Dino 
Dennis in four to finish the year.
  Foreman fought five men in one night in a 1975 exhibition. He won 
five straight knockouts on the comeback trail before being decked and 
decision-ed by Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico in 1977. Foreman stated that 
he saw God in his dressing room following the defeat and announced he 
was going to become a preacher and retire from boxing. He became a 
born-again Christian, dedicating his life for the next decade to 
Christianity. Although he did not formally retire from boxing, he did 
stop fighting, became an ordained minister of a church in Houston, 
Texas, and devoted himself to his family and his parishioners. He also 
opened a youth center that bears his name. Foreman continues to share 
his conversion experience on Christian television broadcasts such as 
The 700 Club and the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and has joked that 
Young ``knocked the devil out of him''.
  When Foreman decided to return to the ring to raise money for his 
church; experts laughed, but he racked up 18 straight knockout 
victories. He was defeated in a title bid by Evander Holyfield. In 
1994, Foreman again shocked the world by knocking out undefeated World 
Heavyweight Champion Michael Moorer, 39-0, to become champion again at 
age 45.
  Shortly after the Moorer fight, Foreman faced mid-level prospect Axel 
Schulz of Germany in defense of his remaining International Boxing 
Federation title. Foreman finished the fight with an unsightly swelling 
over one eye, but was awarded a highly controversial majority decision. 
The IBF ordered an immediate rematch to be held in Germany, but Foreman 
refused the terms and found himself stripped of his remaining title.

[[Page E1608]]

  In 1996, Foreman returned to Tokyo, scoring an easy win over the 
unrated Crawford Grimsley by a 12-round decision. In 1997, he faced 
fringe contender Lou Savarese, winning a close decision in a grueling, 
competitive encounter. Yet another opportunity came Foreman's way as 
the World Boxing Council decided to match him against Shannon Briggs in 
a 1998 ``eliminator bout'' for the right to face World Boxing Council 
champion Lennox Lewis. After 12 rounds, there was once again a 
controversial majority decision, but this time the victory went to 
Briggs. Foreman had fought for the last time, at the age of 48.
  In January 2003, Foreman was elected to the International Boxing Hall 
of Fame, where he was inducted in June. That same year, he was named 
boxing's ninth greatest puncher of all time by Ring Magazine.
  Foreman said he had no plans to resume his career as a boxer, but 
then announced in February 2004 that he was training for one more 
comeback fight to demonstrate that the age of 60, like 40, is not a 
``death sentence.'' The bout, against an unspecified opponent, never 
materialized. Having severed his relationship with HBO to pursue other 
opportunities, George Foreman and the sport of boxing finally went 
their separate ways.
  Life has definitely gone on after boxing for ``Big George Foreman.'' 
In addition to becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World and an 
Olympic Medal Winner, Olympic Hall of Famer, he wears the titles of 
pastor, nationally recognized spokesperson, entrepreneur, author, 
reality television star, mentor and role model. He has been the face of 
Meineke Mufflers, and countless homes in the country have the George 
Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine.
  In 2004, Foreman began marketing the George Foreman brand of ``Big 
and Tall'' clothes through the retailer Casual Male. He has even 
appeared as a judge on the second season of the ABC reality television 
series American Inventor. Foreman has four books: The Autobiography of 
George Foreman; God in My Corner: A Spiritual Memoir; Going the Extra 
Smile; and Fatherhood by George: Hard-Won Advice on Being a Dad.
  On May 22, 2007, it was announced that Foreman had become a partner 
in the Panther Racing Indy Car team, in the Indianapolis 500; and on 
July 16, 2008, TV Land premiered Family Foreman, a reality TV show, 
starring George and his family.
  Big George Foreman continues to be extremely active in the community. 
He encourages young people through his George Foreman Youth Center in 
Houston, and he built The George Foreman Youth & Community Center in 
1984 with money saved from his 8-year retirement. Foreman wanted to 
create a haven for kids to hang out.
  I am proud to recognize my friend whom I admire greatly, Mr. George 
Foreman, for his accomplishments in and out of the boxing ring. He has 
repeatedly shown us all that you can overcome all odds and obstacles. 
He is a shining testament of hard work and determination, and I applaud 
all of his accomplishments and service to the community.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________