When Sybil questioned whether or not Black fighters were still dominant, Foreman gave his perspective.
“Everyone got accustomed to heavyweights, and for a long time George Forman, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and all of us were on the scene. But in the lighter weights, a lot of guys just don’t go in. You have to be a big guy – football type player to be a heavyweight. That’s where that distinction comes in. But we’ve had a lot of fighters from all over that weight division in the lighter weights. Sugar Ray Robinson ruled the welterweight division.”
While Foreman came back to win the heavyweight title at 45, becoming the oldest man to do so, it’s unlikely there will be another comeback. Foreman blew out 64 candles on his birthday cake this year. But he says he did consider it some years ago.
“I told my wife I was going back at 55 .I was all set, in the gym working out and just as I was about to go back, she said ‘You’re not going back into boxing.’ I said ‘No one tell me what to do.’ Well, I never went back. I told her I could still do it. And she said “That’s how you want to leave the sport, feeling like you can still do it.” I was really in some of the best condition of my life at that age, but once in a while somebody has to tell you ‘Do something new. You can’t do the same thing forever.’ Let me get on the radio, that’s what I want to do. I’m in training.”
The Garcia/Lopez fight will air on “HBO After Dark” on Saturday, June 15 starting at 10:45 p.m. Tickets for the fight at the American Airlines arena are still available here.
Boxed Out: George Foreman Steps Outside Ring to Promote Fight was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
