When George Foreman met Evander Holyfield

In 1987, Texan two-times world champion Foreman was 38 when he announced his return to the ring. He had retired in 1977, after losing to fellow American heavyweight Jimmy Young.

While boxing pundits largely dismissed his comeback as a sideshow, he battled his way back to fitness, ultimately meeting undisputed heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield in a closely fought battle four years later.

The spectacle at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, on 19th April 1991 was advertised as The Battle of the Ages, due to Foreman being 42 and Holyfield being only 28. It became the highest grossing boxing match in history at the time, with 19,000 fans packing the stadium and 1.45 million watching on pay-per-view TV.

Initially, fans felt it would be one sided, but the veteran boxer proved them wrong: it became one of the most famous matches in history as a feat of sheer human endurance.

First world heavyweight title

One of the most iconic boxers of the 20th century, Foreman’s career spanned from 1967 to 1997. Born in January 1949, he was a “troubled youth”, according to his autobiography, dropping out of school at 15. However, at 16, he changed course, after joining the Job Corps – a programme of free education and training run by the US Department of Labour.

He learned construction work and forestry, earned his high school diploma equivalent and started training as a boxer under instructor Nick Broadus, winning his debut amateur fight by a first round knockout. In 1968, at the age of 19, he was chosen for the US Olympic boxing team in the heavyweight division. He won the gold medal, beating 29-year-old opponent Jonas Čepulis, of Lithuania, in the second round.

Winning 22 amateur fights, he turned professional in 1969, winning all his 13 pro fights, 11 by knockout. In 1970, he won all 12 fights, continuing his dream to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. By the end of 1971, he had amassed 32 wins by knockout and no losses since 1969.

Taking the world title on 22nd January 1973, he defeated Joe Frazier, but he lost it again on 30th October 1974 when beaten by Muhammad Ali in the legendary Rumble in the Jungle. At 6 ft 4 ins tall and weighing in at 220 lbs at his peak, Foreman had seemed almost invincible, but later told the press, “It just wasn’t my night.”

In 1975, he took part in an exhibition match, Foreman vs Five, when he fought five opponents in one night. After beating the first three, he was exhausted and lost the last two bouts. Despite a number of significant victories over the next two years, the boxing world was shocked when Foreman retired, aged 28.

He told the media he had suffered a “near death experience” after his defeat to Young, when suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion, leaving him pleading with God to save him. On recovering, Foreman became a Born Again Christian and devoted his life to preaching, becoming minister at Houston’s Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and opening a youth centre.

George Foreman comeback

Foreman’s announcement in 1987 that he was making a boxing comeback, after ten years, was met with disbelief, despite his 69-2 record in his heyday. However, on 9th March, photos of Foreman in the ring defeating Steve Zouski in round four surfaced, with his 40 lb weight gain being obvious.

Despite the criticisms, over time, the boxing world started to take notice, realising Foreman meant business. He continued his journey back to fitness by travelling to fights in towns off the beaten track, such as Anchorage in Alaska. Fans began to back him, especially after 19 straight victories over the next three years. Legend has it “Iron” Mike Tyson took Foreman seriously, so when promoter Don King suggested the two should meet in the ring, Tyson reportedly replied, “I ain’t fighting that animal!”

Evander Holyfield career

While Foreman continued on his comeback trail, 28-year-old Evander Holyfield, undefeated with a 25-0 record, had defeated Buster Douglas for the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight championships on 25th October 1990. The Alabama born boxer, born in October 1962, stood 6 ft 2 ins tall and weighed in at around 208 lbs in his prime. He remains the only four-times world heavyweight boxing champion.

The youngest of nine siblings, he began boxing at seven and competed in the Junior Olympics at 13. Starting his boxing career as a light heavyweight, he won a bronze medal representing the US as an amateur at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. After he turned professional, he moved up to heavyweight in 1988.

Battle of the Ages

The famous meeting in the ring between George Foreman and Evander Holyfield was eagerly anticipated by fans, although the press believed it would be one-sided and doubted whether Foreman would reach the second round. On the contrary, he showed surprising resilience and power, despite his age and weight disadvantages.

The stakes were high: according to the New York Times, Holyfield was to receive a guaranteed purse of £14.7 million and Foreman £9.2 million. They would also split an additional £1.4 million between them as a percentage of the revenue.

In the first and second rounds, Holyfield’s advantage speed wise was obvious and he scored points with quick volleys, stepping back before his opponent could respond. However, towards the end of round two, Foreman caught Holyfield with two rapid left hooks, driving him to the ropes. He brought the crowd to their feet with roars of excitement as it became apparent Foreman was there to win, rather than simply collect his pay cheque.

Holyfield rallied round, but Foreman took the fifth round with a massive left hook. In the sixth, Foreman was described as “an old grizzly bear determined to hunt down its prey” as he kept coming at his younger, faster opponent.

Round seven was a pivotal moment, described as a “ferocious war”. Foreman’s huge right caused Holyfield to stagger, a flurry of shots raining down on him. Then the champion hit back, stunning Foreman with a series of blows that had him swaying. The advantage went back and forth for the rest of the round, with Foreman having even more stamina than in his youth. Round seven was his high point, as by round eight, Holyfield had regained his composure. The two icons continued to slug away throughout the final two rounds, when the younger fighter appeared more exhausted, clinching and hanging on in round 12 to survive until the final bell.

The judges’ unanimous decision in favour of Holyfield wasn’t a surprise, but the actual result seemed unimportant, as a 42-year-old boxer had proved the critics wrong. Afterwards, Foreman commented, “He won the points, but I proved the point.”

Aftermath of the fight

Holyfield later admitted Foreman was the hardest puncher he had ever faced, adding, “His strength is everything and he’s got good timing,” with the world champion having to “dance around him” to win.

Foreman’s career continued after the bout and he became the oldest heavyweight world champion in history when he earned the title a second time, at the age of 45, by defeating Michael Moorer. After the legendary boxer passed away earlier this year, the boxing world mourned the loss of a unique icon, who had a career record of 76 wins (68 by knockout), and five losses. Holyfield, now 62, retired from boxing in 2014 with a career record of 44 wins, 29 by knockout.