The Boxing History Blog

 George Foreman George Foreman spent ten years out of boxing, practicing as an ordained minister at the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Texas, which he founded and built. He accredited the loss to Muhammad Ali as, “The best thing that ever happened to me” as it led him to “get my message out” through preaching. In a BBC article, he stated that his preaching started small on street corners and with friends, before growing. “We began meeting informally at various homes in Houston, and before long, the crowds became too large for most houses to accommodate “Eventually, we bought a piece of land and an old, dilapidated building on the north-east side of Houston.” He also founded the George Foreman Youth and Community Center , just down the block from his church. It was a large warehouse that was abandoned by a building contractor before completion. Foreman formed a charitable foundation that bought the warehouse, paid for refurbishments, and kitted it out with weights, boxing equipm...

On 13th November 1992, the new WBC mandatory contender was at ringside, working as part of the Home Box Office commentary team, to watch Riddick Bowe outpoint Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship. The hype train started as soon as the new champion left the ring and the two Olympic finalists squared up to each other in a war of words for a mega-fight in 1993. With Bowe signing an agreement with the World Boxing Council prior to his fight with Holyfield to face the winner of Ruddock-Lewis, the WBC gave Bowe until 13th December to reach a deal, or the contest would go to purse bids. Rock Newman, the heavyweight champion's manager, made two offers to Team Lewis. His first offer guaranteed Lewis $3 million, giving Bowe a ninety percent share of the purse and Lewis ten percent. The second offer was for Lewis to not contest Bowe next, but to face an interim opponent in the United States for $2.5 million and then fight Bowe for $9 million or a negotiated percentage...

With the European (EBU) heavyweight championship firmly around his waist, it was time to step Lennox Lewis up in class. He faced British champion and world-ranked Gary Mason at London's Wembley Arena on 06th March 1991 .  Mason was born in Jamaica on 15th December 1962 and came to Britain as a four-year-old. He started his pro career in October 1984 against Al Malcolm, the same man who faced Lewis on his professional debut. Mason blasted out Malcolm in the first round and his kayo spree lasted until November 1986 when American Oscar Holman took him the full eight-round distance. Mason continued to bomb out his opponents, including former Mike Tyson victims Sammy Scaff (two rounds), Alfonzo Ratcliff (six rounds), David Jaco (four rounds) and James 'Quick' Tillis (fifth round), equalling Frank Bruno and Evander Holyfield .  With a record of 28-0 and twenty-seven stoppages, Mason was nominated to face Hughroy Currie for the British heavyweight title , vacated by the unbeat...