Biography
The name of the legendary Boxer-Professional George Forman, most likely heard even those who are far from sports. For 18 years, career he reached many heights and retired at 48 years. And today is the pastor of one of the religious flows. It is difficult to believe that once this goodness with a smile who is not converging from his face was called the most crushing heavyweight in the history of the boxing.Childhood and youth
Biography Boxer began in Marshall, Texas, where he was born in January 1949. Shortly after the birth of the son, Father Leroy Murhead dies, the mother get married for the second time and raises the child along with the stepfammed jam di formant. In addition to him, there were still six children in the family, they lived poorly earned by the parents of money barely enough for food.
George's childhood spent in Houston, at that time his stepfather worked on the railway. There was often a small salary of a man often in the bar, he loved to drink and cared little about the children. They had to survive on the earnings of the mother. The boy did not have enough parental attention, he learned poorly and offended other children, in 15 years he is excluded from school.
In the youth, Forman often fought with the teenagers, participated in street "wars". But at some point thought and joined the "working building". This is a special program for a low-income population, there are people who were taught by professions and called for sports.
There George learned not only the work of a carpenter and laying bricks, in this center the guy began to boo. Often visiting training, quickly achieved results at the amateur level.
So Formant first turns out to be in the ring, often wins rivals. One of the most high-profile awards in those years was the 1st place in the national amateur athletic tournament in the framework of heavyweight weight. After this, the young man's event leaves the "working building" immediately. In 1968, George takes Olympic Gold at the championship games in Mexico City, which became an excellent result for a person with 25 amateur battles behind his back.
Boxing
At 20, George goes into professional battles. Only in the first year he goes to the ring 13 times, and the first 7 wins won by knockout. In 1970, a man meets 11 times with rivals. They included George Chuvalo, with whom the duel was short-lived, but entertainment (in the 3rd round, the referee was stopped), and Grigory Peralta. Although George managed to defeat the Argenta, that ram in the rival eyebrows.After the first years of the career in the ring, Forman earned a boxer reputation with an incredible physical strength and a powerful blow, and the sullen and thoughtful expression of the face reinforced this image. With an increase in 192 cm at that time, its weight was 99 kg. Fans often compared a fighter with the former champ of Sonny Liston.
Further career is developing even more rapidly, a boxer distinguished himself in 1972, after 12 months 5 fights and graduating from them by knockout in the 2nd round. And a year later, I met a serious opponent - the world champion Joe Freser at that time at that time. George took 2 incomplete rounds to shoot off the opponent from the feet 6 times. After 4 minutes, 35 seconds of the referee stopped the fight and awarded the victory of the form of, so he first became heavyweight champion in the versions of two professional boxing organizations.
Three times Forman defended the acquired title. In the first battle with Jose Roman spent on the ring only 50 seconds, she became the most short in the entire history of the boat heavyweights. The second rival was Ken Norton, who during his stay in the ring was three times in Nokdaun and eventually lost. The beating of his ward stopped the coach that came to the ring.
The most difficult for an athlete was the third fight on the hold of the title with Mohammed Ali. The opponent, knowing the power of George, chose the right tactics. He simply shied first rounds, and when he exhaled, attacked him. On the 8th round, the referee stopped the fight, so Big George suffered the first defeat.
The loss of title has become a big blow for an American, after he did not go to the ring for more than a year, making exceptions to exhibition battles. In 1976, a man decides to change the team, including the coach, and renews a career. The boxer as if the second breathing was opened.
The first, with whom George is found after a big break, Ron Lyle, who did not immediately, but won. The athlete himself called this fight the hardest for himself. After 5 months, George spends the match-revenge with Joe Freser, who won again. And then knocked out Scott Led. But in 1977 he suffered a defeat for his career, having received a knockdown from Jimmy Yang.
This loss made an unexpected turn in the life of the boxer. He decides to finish with sports and refers to faith. First, he preaches in Houston, in 1980 he opens the church, and after 4 years it is based on a youth fund of assistance. The man is forced to invest from his own pocket, but soon realizes that money is complete, and decides to resume career.
Then he was 39 years old, during these years he recovered, but did not stop improving protective skills. And the first year in the ring she won 5 early victories in a row. This series continued for several years, his rivals became Dwight Kavi, Bert Cooper, Jerry Kuni. A series of winnings interrupted Evander Holyfield in 1991. Boxing fans waited for his meetings with Mike Tyson, but did not take place the battle, and both athletes do not regret it.
Further, Jimmy Alice, Alex Stewart and other fighters appear on the list of Forman partners in Ringgu. And in 1993 he loses Tommy Morrison. But at the age of 45, George managed to defeat the triumphal victory over Michael Murra. So in 1994, the athlete returned the cherished title of champion. And a year later, the belt was lost for the refusal to protect against Tony Takcker. After spent only 3 fights and finally left the boxing. According to Ring magazine, Fighter took the 9th line in the list of strongest 20th century panels.
Personal life
Boxer's personal life is saturated with events. The man was first married in 1971 on an American Adrienne Calhoon. The marriage lasted 3 years, in 1974 the pair broke off. The second wife of Forman was Cynthia Lewis in 1977, but this relationship could not be saved, after 2 years they divorced.
In 1985, the athlete's wife became Mary Joan Martelli, with whom he happily lives and now. They are both believers and always dreamed of a big family. The pair reproduces 10 children - 5 sons and 5 daughters. And 2 more girls wrapped the spouses.
George Foreman now
Judging by the photo in "Instagram" George, a man loves to travel, a lot of time devotes to the church, relatives and friends. Also interested in sports, puts posts on this topic.In March 2019, the press appeared the tragic news about the death of one of the members of the George family - Frida Foreman. She also performed on a professional ring, where she won 5 victories, and completed his career after the 6th defeat in a row. His daughter died in his own house in Texas, where he was found by a relative, the cause of the death of the investigators call suicide. The life of the woman cut off on the 43rd year of life.
Awards and titles
- 1968 - USA champion in boxing among lovers in heavy weight category
- 1973-1974 - World Heavy Weight Champion according to WBC
- 1973-1974 - World Heavy Weight Champion according to WBA
- 1994 - World Heavy Weight Champion according to WBA
- 1994-1995 - World Heavy Weight Champion according to IBF