Brigadier who exchanges blows with Muhammad Ali in their famous hum in the fight against the jungle
George Forman, legend in heavyweight in boxing, has died at the age of 76said his family.
The American, known as the Great George in the ring, has fought for decades since the 1960s, winning gold at the Olympics and numerous title belts, including the world title in a super -weight twice.
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Born George Edward Forman on January 10, 1949 in Marshal, Texas, his amateur boxing career reached its maximum at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where he won a gold medal after the victory and he was known to waved a small flag.
In his autobiography, he said he waved the flag “as much for himself as the country.”
“I told everyone who I was, and at the same time saying that I am proud of the American.”
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After becoming a professional in 1969, he quickly rose to ranks. Until 1972, he had a winning series of 37 battles – 35 of which were knocked out. His first heavyweight World Championship shot took place in 1973 when he knocked out the over -the -art world champion Joe Fraser.
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The foreman won the title at the age of 24 and successfully defended it twice.
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Then the foreman lost the title in the ridiculous weight of Muhammad Ali in the famous 1974 in the fight against the jungle. In order to demolish the foreman, Ali spent eight rounds, leaning on the ropes, the tactics he called “a rope-to-do.”
One day he called the loss of the “most unpleasant moment” of his life.
“I just couldn’t believe I lost the title of the world,” he said, adding, ‘It passed from pride to the desired. It is destructive.
His opponent, according to Forman, was “the most violent person I met when I met.”
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A great change took place in 1977: shortly after losing the fight against American boxer Jimmy Young, Forman abandoned his boxing and turned to religion, becoming the appointed minister in 1978. He later founded the George Forman Youth Center and the Public Center and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He told the BBC that his defeat Ali became “the best thing, if -something happened to me” because it eventually made him “get my message” through preaching.
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After almost ten years from boxing, Foreman decided to pick up gloves in 1987 and return to the ring to raise funds for his young center. During his successful return to sports, he won 24 matches before losing Holyfield’s Gospel after 12 rounds in 1991.
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In 1994, he picked up at a new enterprise, facing Grill George Formana – also known as a “medium grill machine”. In the boxing ring, he also became the oldest heavyweight champion at the age of 45 in the same year. Three years later, he left the boxing, in 1997, gaining an extraordinary record with 76 wins and 5 losses.
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The foreman had 12 children – including five sons, also called George. He is painted here with his son George III. He once explained that he called them after themselves so that they “always have something in common.” He continued his work in the church to death, preaching in his ministry four times a week, according to his site.
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