George Foreman has died and we`ve lost An All Time Great

Anyone and everyone who truly loves boxing, has an ache in their heart and a tear in their eye, as we come to terms with the passing of Big George Foreman aged seventy- six.

As with all Greats, each of us will remember where we were and what we doing, at this seminal and seismic moment, which has already passed into history.

George was a giant in every sense of the word for all the World. Akin to a grizzly bear in the ring, who mellowed into a teddy bear outside of it. A huge frame, a booming voice the power of Jove in his granite fists, yet a heart of gold.

No man will ever regain a world title twenty years after he lost it. George`s achievement aged forty-five in knocking out Michael Moorer in round ten with that thunderous right hand, will never be matched, let alone surpassed. George, who harnessed himself to a jeep which he towed in three miles sessions to get ready for his tilt at ring immortality, said that in reality although his right was might, but his left wasn`t that great. When his Wife was asleep, he`d slip out of bed, go up to the next floor where his gym was located and hit the heavy bag a hundred times with his left. He said to level Moorer, he`d need to firstly straighten him up with the left, before dropping his ton of bricks right on him. And so it transpired, with George looking to the Heavens to thank God and then kneeling to say a prayer of thanks to The Bigger Guy.

On a trip to Mexico City, George said just how much his Gold Medal in the 1968 Olympics here meant to him. It was the start of a golden beginning. He had guts. Very few back then would dare to spar with the formidable Sonny Liston. George chuckled as he recalled Sonny`s Coach Dick Saddler tell the glowering Sonny to go easy and gentle on him the boy. But George being greener than grass, whaled into Sonny`s midsection and was seeing stars when a giant left smashed into his face, followed by a thunderous right.

The King Lion gave the cub a sound cuffing warning him: ”Watch it kid,” to which George replied: ”Yes Sir.” The two became friends. George recalled that Sonny who couldn`t read and write used to trace his autograph and once knocked a book out of his hands. At that time George didn`t know Sonny`s iliteracy dilemma . George recalled that due to his reach there was nowhere in the ring where Sonny couldn`t reach him. Yet as they became friends, the older man patiently taught George ringcraft and power punching.

In the first part of his career, George imitated Sonny`s mean stare and tough guy persona. Fortunately for all of us, he grew up matured and his genial side emerged as he grew older. He leaned to accept the loss in Zaire. He and Muhammad Ali became friends. George also became friends with Joe Frazier who he knocked down six times to win the title and then demolished in their rematch. As Champion he overwhelmed Ken Norton in just two rounds.

After the defeat at the hands of Ali, George fought a slugfest against Ron Lyle who knocked him down twice. George returned the favor thrice in a ring war, spurred on by Gil Clancey, who pointedly asked him who wanted to win the most? George said he did and in no uncertain terms, Gil demanded he prove it, which he did.

George who was an Ordained Minister loved God and had faith. He was proud to mention this when you talked with him. He was a shrewd businessman and when there was a lot at stake he made millions from his George Foreman Grill.

George was not afraid of dying, because of his faith in the Almighty. He joins Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in the Heavens. Most heavyweights with the exceptions of Schmeling, Dempsey and Tunney aren`t blessed with longevity, but they pack at least three lives into one, while they are with us. George Foreman`s two career span in Boxing will always be remembered with awe and admiration.

As a troublesome teenager, he sneaked home for a nap. One of his cousins found him and she told him to sleep on as he`d never amount to anything in life. This woke George up and convinced him to make his mark on this world. God now greets him and he will rest in Eternal Peace.

Mortality places its heavy hand on all of our shoulders. We can only hope it comes gently. The Austrian artist Gustav Klimt put it this way:

”I hope death is like being carried to your bedroom when you were a child and fall asleep on the coach during a family party.

”I hope you can hear the laughter in the next room. The lilies abound”

Goodbye Big George and God Speed. Oh Boy, we`re going to miss You!