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George Foreman coming out of retirement, King says
Seven years after walking away from the ring, George Foreman might put on his boxing gloves for one more comeback.
Foreman agreed to a tentative $20 million deal to return for a fight celebrating the 30th anniversary of his epic bout with Muhammad Ali, Don King said Tuesday.
"George said he wants to come back to fight again, so what I'm doing is calling him out," King said. "He has the power, boy, he's rewriting history books."
King said he talked with the 55-year-old Foreman last week about the prospects of a fight.
"We've got a verbal deal," King said. "He said, 'I'm willing to fight one more time."'
King said no opponent, date or location have been set, although Foreman said last week he'd like any fight to be in his hometown of Houston.
He announced his interest in a comeback last week in Texas, but said he wasn't getting into the ring until he gets his weight down to 225 pounds. Foreman didn't have a timetable for his return.
Foreman has said he's interested in fighting again to show young people that there's no reason to fear getting older. He hasn't fought since 1997, when he lost his heavyweight title to Shannon Briggs. He has spent his time since as a TV pitchman and boxing commentator.
Foreman did not immediately return calls seeking comment Tuesday.
Foreman would have to get himself into shape, King said, but he didn't expect the former heavyweight champion to have a problem finding a state that would license him to fight.
Foreman first won the heavyweight title in 1973 by knocking out Joe Frazier. He lost the title the next year to Ali in a bout fought in Zaire known as the "Rumble in Jungle." That fight was the first professional championship bout King promoted.
In 1987, after a 10-year retirement, Foreman made his first comeback. Seven years later, at 45, Foreman marked the 20th anniversary of the Ali fight by knocking out Michael Moorer to become the oldest person to win the heavyweight title. He lost the title in the 1997 match against Briggs, leaving the ring with a 76-5 record with 68 knockouts.
Foreman has been the spokesman for a number of companies during the past several years, and pitched countertop grills bearing his name. He has also been a ringside commentator for HBO.
King said he plans to match Foreman against one of his fighters, but wasn't specific about which boxer.
"We've got all this together," King said. "The pot of gold is waiting."
Source: AP
Foreman agreed to a tentative $20 million deal to return for a fight celebrating the 30th anniversary of his epic bout with Muhammad Ali, Don King said Tuesday.
"George said he wants to come back to fight again, so what I'm doing is calling him out," King said. "He has the power, boy, he's rewriting history books."
King said he talked with the 55-year-old Foreman last week about the prospects of a fight.
"We've got a verbal deal," King said. "He said, 'I'm willing to fight one more time."'
King said no opponent, date or location have been set, although Foreman said last week he'd like any fight to be in his hometown of Houston.
He announced his interest in a comeback last week in Texas, but said he wasn't getting into the ring until he gets his weight down to 225 pounds. Foreman didn't have a timetable for his return.
Foreman has said he's interested in fighting again to show young people that there's no reason to fear getting older. He hasn't fought since 1997, when he lost his heavyweight title to Shannon Briggs. He has spent his time since as a TV pitchman and boxing commentator.
Foreman did not immediately return calls seeking comment Tuesday.
Foreman would have to get himself into shape, King said, but he didn't expect the former heavyweight champion to have a problem finding a state that would license him to fight.
Foreman first won the heavyweight title in 1973 by knocking out Joe Frazier. He lost the title the next year to Ali in a bout fought in Zaire known as the "Rumble in Jungle." That fight was the first professional championship bout King promoted.
In 1987, after a 10-year retirement, Foreman made his first comeback. Seven years later, at 45, Foreman marked the 20th anniversary of the Ali fight by knocking out Michael Moorer to become the oldest person to win the heavyweight title. He lost the title in the 1997 match against Briggs, leaving the ring with a 76-5 record with 68 knockouts.
Foreman has been the spokesman for a number of companies during the past several years, and pitched countertop grills bearing his name. He has also been a ringside commentator for HBO.
King said he plans to match Foreman against one of his fighters, but wasn't specific about which boxer.
"We've got all this together," King said. "The pot of gold is waiting."
Source: AP