Those famous three words spoken by broadcaster Howard Cosell, “Down goes Frazier,” in a heavyweight battle called the Sunshine Showdown, have left a lifetime mark in boxing history. Cosell, an ABC sports commentator, said this memorable call when George Foreman laid out Joe Frazier multiple times in the match up heard around the world which took place in Kingston, Jamaica. It was 1973 when Foreman became the Heavyweight Champion of the World for the first time. Foreman would have a decorated boxing career even retiring in his prime to become a ordained minister. Then ten years after retiring from the ring, he made one of the best comebacks in sports history. When I heard of his passing at 76 years old, I felt like digging my George Foreman grill out of the closet in some kind gesture to honor the gentle giant who touched so many hearts along with punching so many marbles out of his opponent’s head.

George Foreman was from the state of Texas and like it seems most boxers always have that troubled past in life. At the age of 15, he was a grown man who brawled in the streets and even was your not quiet friendly neighborhood mugger. Foreman would turn his life around and found the sport of boxing, which he was pretty good at. He won a gold medal in the ring in the 1968 Olympics for his country in Mexico City. Showed his patriotism with a small flag after he won the gold medal round. Foreman would compile up a record 76 wins to 5 losses after the Olympics fighting professionally. He was a 2X Heavyweight champion. When he hung up the gloves for good, he was inducted into two Boxing Hall of Fames. The World and the International. He walked away from the boxing ring at the age of 28, retired, and hung up the gloves. In 1987, ten years after, he returned to fight at the age of 38 and was successful. Foreman has that Rocky Balboa story we like in sports.

George Forman’s career was filled with epic bouts including the one in 1974 in Zaire, Africa. The Historical Rumble in the Jungle as Foreman faced perhaps the greatest boxer of all-time in Muhammad Ali. It was a fight that did live up to all the hype. Foreman would lose this epic battle being knocked out in the 8th round. Foreman was only 25 years of age at that time and would have 5 more bouts before retiring at 28. He would have a rematch with Joe Frazier and come out of that one victorious. Another memorable epic fight was with Ron Lyle where he won in 5 rounds. It was a battle with both boxers exchanging devastating blows in a grind out battle where George would add another W to his record. You wonder what would have happened if he did not retire at 28. Would his record be better? He may have gotten the title again. He did get the title again at the age of 45 which is unheard of. It’s not Tom Brady playing football and you can’t hit him. This is a guy taking on punches from beasts half his age with anger issues.

At the age of 45, George Foreman performed an epic 2-punch combo that put Michael Moore on the canvas. The referee counted to ten and that was all she wrote as Foreman once again held one of the prestigious awards in sports, the Heavyweight Champion of the World belt which is the greatest boxing prize of them all. How did he get to Moore? Foreman would have another epic showdown with Evander Holyfield that went all the way to the brink. Foreman would lose that match up. Remember Tommy Gunn from the worst movie in the Rocky Franchise that was part 5.

Tommy Gunn was actually a real boxer. His acting skills were not very good. His name was Tommy Morrison and he tried to beat Foreman when George was at the age of 42. Morrison would die years later from his battle with AIDS at the age of 44. Despite a few losses, Foreman would fight on until he reached another chance at the belt with Moore and delivered the best comeback in sports history, some would say. His final fight of his career was in 1997 when he lost to Shannan Briggs by decision. The Ring named Foreman the 9th greatest boxer to pack a punch of All-Time. In 2002 he was listed as the 25th best boxer of the past 80 years which is big compliment.

After boxing, George Foreman worked at HBO as a boxing analyst with Jim Lampley as they dissected match ups for over ten years together. Then what everyone wants to know about… the George Foreman electric grill. It was a grill known for its ability to cut down fat while the food cook. The fat would drain off the meat. Foreman was on all kinds of infomercials late at night hocking these grills to the insomniacs. Foreman would eventually sell the commercial rights for his grill for 138 million. Foreman would still be a preacher in Houston, Texas. He was a humanitarian. People wonder why he did not fight the great Mike Tyson. Because Foreman was no dumb cookie as he hated Tyson’s promoter, Don King, who gave the sport a bad name. Foreman would suffer heartache in 2019 losing his daughter Freeda who also was a former boxer. He was surrounded by his loving family when he passed as he leaves behind 11 kids with a few different mothers, imagine. His current wife. If you can pick a famous athlete to sit down and have a meal with, Foreman would be an interesting guy to talk to and on my list. Spring is in the air for most places around the world. Instead of lighting up the grill outside, maybe plug in your old Foreman grill and cook up something tasty to honor the late George Foreman who gave us some great entertainment in and out of the boxing ring. I know 76 is many years, but it seems way too young to leave this planet and a guy like Foreman put so much energy to others in his entire life.