Sports Nicknames - Big George

George Foreman has had an interesting career. He spent most of his career boxing, although the younger population will probably know him more for his entrepreneurship; most notably the George Foreman Grill.



Foreman's career can generally be split into 2 parts: before and after his religious epiphany. The first part of his boxing career was between 1969 and 1977, although he was boxing even before then. "Big George", as he would become known, first won a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics. This would launch a series of 40 fights undefeated, reigning as the World Heavyweight Champion until losing to Muhammad Ali in 1973.

After that defeat, Foreman struggled somewhat. It wasn't until 1977 that he experienced a rebirth. He lost brutally after a fight against Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico, suffering from heatstroke and exhaustion. This would lead to a spiritual rebirth and devotion to Christianity. It would be another 10 years until Foreman returned to the boxing world. However, this return would be a brilliant one.

Foreman would go on to fight 34 more fights, only losing 3 of them. He took back the title in 1994 after he beat Michael Moorer. Alas, this would only last 2 years before he lost the belt to Shannon Briggs.

Big George had a rather astonishing career. Such a renaissance after 10 years of self-reflection and religious ministering is quite the step back into the limelight. Following his boxing career, the George Foreman Grill went on to make him even more money over time. George Foreman most certainly has had the career many would envy, both during and after his boxing days.


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