Latest news with #Moorer
Boston Globe
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Boxing legend George Foreman to be honored at Houston memorial service
'We're going to celebrate the life of George Foreman, two-time heavyweight champion of the world and certainly the face of how great Houston is,' Whitmire said. Advertisement Foreman died on March 21 at age 76. Foreman's family has not disclosed his cause of death, only saying on social media that he 'peacefully departed … surrounded by loved ones.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Born in Marshall, Texas, Foreman was raised in Houston's Fifth Ward, one of the city's historically Black neighborhoods. He began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist in 1968, turning pro the next year. Foreman became the heavyweight champion of the world when he beat Joe Frazier in 1973. But he lost the title the following year when Muhammad Ali beat Foreman in the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight in Zaire. Foreman then gave up boxing and after a religious awakening, became an ordained minister in 1978. He began preaching in Houston, later founding The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1980. Advertisement The middle-aged fighter returned to the ring after a 10-year absence and in 1994 pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history, flooring Moorer — 19 years his junior — with a surgical right hand to claim Moorer's two heavyweight belts. Foreman retired in 1997 with a 76-5 career record. He then moved to the next chapter in his life as a businessman, pitchman and occasional actor. He became known to a new generation as the face of the George Foreman Grill. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and brought him more wealth than boxing. A biographical movie based on his life was released in 2023. Foreman had 12 children, including five sons who are all famously named George Edward Foreman.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘He hasn't let her go': Heather Elvis' family reacts to Sidney Moorer wanting new trial
SOCASTEE, S.C. (WBTW) – Heather Elvis' family spoke to News13 Sunday about Sidney Moorer filing for a new trial. Moorer and his wife, Tammy, were convicted in the kidnapping of Elvis, who disappeared in December 2013. Elvis was 20 years old when she went missing. Her abandoned car was found at Peachtree Landing in Socastee, but authorities have not found her almost 12 years later. Sidney Moorer was first found guilty of obstruction of justice in 2017 in connection with Elvis' disappearance before being found guilty on a kidnapping charge in a 2019 retrial. In a post-conviction relief form, it states Sidney Moorer wants a new trial because his attorney 'did very little work.' Moorer also claims prosecutors withheld evidence and changed their timeline to get Moorer convicted of kidnapping Heather Elvis. Debbi Elvis, Heather's mother, said in every appeal Moorer has filed, he has asked for a new trial. She said she is worried Moorer may get a new trial and be found not guilty of kidnapping her daughter. Morgan Elvis, Heather's sister, said she believes Heather's case and Moorer's trial were fair. 'It's been looked at by so many people, by so many courts, by so many officials, and nothing has been slipped through the cracks,' Morgan said. 'However, I do want to say that, in a system where he is able to advocate and fight for himself, I just wish he had thought the same, that Heather might have wanted to fight and advocate for her life as well.' Almost 12 years after Heather disappeared, Morgan said many people have become desensitized to Heather's story, so much so that the Elvis family has received hateful messages and seen rumors about Heather online. News13 asked Debbi and Morgan if they think they will see Heather again, if she will be able to tell her own story. 'I do wish I could see her again,' Morgan said. 'But the problem is, I wish I could see who she was again. The reality is, the person you bring home from any kind of traumatic situation is never the person that left.' Debbi said, if she sees Moorer in court again, she would want to tell him one thing. 'I would like to just beg him to let Heather go,' Debbi said. 'I said that to the judge when I gave my victim's impact statement, that I wanted the sentence to be longer, because he's still holding her hostage. He hasn't let her go.' Tammy Moorer is serving a 30-year sentence after being convicted of kidnapping Elvis in 2018. The Moorer's previous appeals were denied in 2023. * * * Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Arab Times
22-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Foreman, fearsome heavyweight champion, dies at 76
WASHINGTON, March 22, (AP): George Foreman became the heavyweight champion of the world in his 20s, only to lose his belt to Muhammad Ali in perhaps the most memorable fight in boxing history. A full 20 years later in 1994, the 45-year-old Foreman became the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship, throwing one perfect combination to steal Michael Moorer's title in an epic upset. Few fighters ever had more big moments than Big George Foreman - and even after he finally left the ring, he was only getting started. The fearsome heavyweight, who lost the "Rumble in the Jungle' to Ali before his inspiring second act as a surprising champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. Foreman was 76. Foreman's family announced his death on social media, not saying how or where he died. "A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose," his family wrote. "A humanitarian, an Olympian, and a two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name- for his family.' A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear and awe as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt. Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening. The middle-aged fighter then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history, flooring Moorer - 19 years his junior - with a surgical right hand and claiming Moorer's two heavyweight belts. Foreman's 20 years is easily the longest gap between heavyweight title reigns. Foreman's transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times - finishing 76-5 with 68 knockouts - before moving on to his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman, and occasional actor. Outside the ring, he was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which launched in the same year as his victory over Moorer. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did. "George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family,' Top Rank president Bob Arum said. "We've lost a family member and are devastated.' In the first chapter of his boxing career, Foreman was nothing like the smiling grandfather who hawked his grills on television to great success. Foreman dabbled in petty crime while growing up in Houston's Fifth Ward, but changed his life through boxing. He made the U.S. Olympic team in 1968 and won gold in Mexico City as a teenager, stopping a 29-year-old opponent in a star-making performance. Foreman rose to the pinnacle of the pro game over the next five years but was also perceived as an aloof, unfriendly athlete, both through his demeanor and through the skewed racial lenses of the time. Jim Lampley, the veteran boxing broadcaster who worked alongside Foreman for many years at HBO, told The Associated Press on Friday night that Foreman's initial demeanor was an attempt by his camp to emulate Sonny Liston, the glowering heavyweight champ of the 1960s.
The National
22-03-2025
- Sport
- The National
Heavyweight boxing great George Foreman dies aged 76
George Foreman became the heavyweight champion of the world in his 20s, only to lose his belt to Muhammad Ali in perhaps the most memorable fight in boxing history. A full 20 years later in 1994, the 45-year-old Foreman became the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship, throwing one perfect combination to steal Michael Moorer's title in an epic upset. Few fighters ever had more big moments than Big George Foreman – and even after he finally left the ring, he was only getting started. The fearsome heavyweight, who lost 'The Rumble in the Jungle' to Ali before his inspiring second act as a surprising champion and a successful businessman, died Friday on night. Foreman was 76. Foreman's family announced his death on social media, not saying how or where he died. 'A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,' his family wrote. 'A humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name – for his family.' A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medallist who inspired fear and awe as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt. Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening. The middle-aged fighter then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history, flooring Moorer – 19 years his junior – with a surgical right hand and claiming Moorer's two heavyweight belts. Foreman's 20 years is easily the longest gap between heavyweight title reigns. Foreman's transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times – finishing 76-5 with 68 knockouts – before moving on to his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor. Outside the ring, he was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which launched in the same year as his victory over Moorer. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did. 'George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family,' Top Rank president Bob Arum said. 'We've lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.' In the first chapter of his boxing career, Foreman was nothing like the smiling grandfather who hawked his grills on television to great success. Foreman dabbled in petty crime while growing up in Houston's Fifth Ward, but changed his life through boxing. He made the US Olympic team in 1968 and won gold in Mexico City as a teenager, stopping a 29-year-old opponent in a star-making performance. Foreman rose to the pinnacle of the pro game over the next five years, but was also perceived as an aloof, unfriendly athlete, both through his demeanour and through the skewed racial lenses of the time. Jim Lampley, the veteran boxing broadcaster who worked alongside Foreman for many years at HBO, told the Associated Press on Friday night that Foreman's initial demeanour was an attempt by his camp to emulate Sonny Liston, the glowering heavyweight champ of the 1960s. 'At some point somewhere along the way, he realised that wasn't him,' Lampley said. Foreman stopped Frazier in an upset in Jamaica in January 1973 to win the belt, with his knockout inspiring Howard Cosell's iconic call: 'Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!' Foreman defended his belt against Ken Norton before accepting the fight with Ali in the now-immortal bout staged in Africa by promoter Don King. Ali put on a tactical masterclass against Foreman, showing off the 'rope-a-dope' strategy that frustrated and infuriated the champion. Foreman was eventually knocked down for the first time in his career, and the fight was stopped in the eighth round. Foreman told the BBC in 2014 that he took the fight almost out of charity to Ali, who he suspected to be broke. 'I said I was going to go out there and kill him, and people said, 'Please, don't say you're going to kill Muhammad,'' Foreman said. 'So I said, 'OK, I'll just beat him down to the ground.' That's how easy I thought the fight would be.' Exhausted and disillusioned, Foreman stopped fighting in 1977 and largely spent the next decade preaching and working with kids in Houston after his religious awakening. He returned to boxing in 1987 in his late 30s with a plan to defy time through frequent ring appearances, and he racked up a lengthy series of victories before losing to Evander Holyfield in a surprisingly competitive title fight in 1991. Three years later, Foreman got in the ring with Moorer in Las Vegas, more for his celebrity than for his perceived ability to beat Moorer. The champion appeared to win the first nine rounds rather comfortably, with Foreman unable to land his slower punches. But Foreman came alive in the 10th, hurting Moorer before slipping in the short right hand that sent Moorer to the canvas in earth-shaking fashion. Lampley, who was calling the fight, named his upcoming autobiography – which includes a prologue about Foreman – after his famous call of that moment: 'It Happened!' Foreman quit the ring for good in 1997, although he occasionally discussed a comeback. He settled into a life as a boxing analyst for HBO and as a pitchman for the grills that grew his fame and fortune. Much of the world soon knew Foreman as both a loveable friend and a ferocious fighter. 'He started performing as this pitchman, this product pitchman with the big, ever-present giant grin on his face,' Lampley recalled. 'When I was working with him, people would say, 'George is a big clown.' And I would say, 'Well, you can call him a clown, but he's actually a genius. He may be the greatest genius I've ever met.' 'And people would say, 'Well, genius, what do you mean?' I'd say, 'Well, check the bank account. If that isn't proof enough, I don't know what is.' So, he was a genius. He was a human genius.' Foreman briefly starred in a sitcom called 'George' in the 1990s, and he even appeared on the reality singing competition 'The Masked Singer' in 2022. A biographical movie based on his life was released in 2023. Foreman had 12 children, including five sons who are all famously named George Edward Foreman. 'Legendary boxing champion, life-changing preacher, husband, father, grand- and great-grandfather and the best friend you could have,' WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman wrote on social media. 'His memory is now eternal, may Big George rest in peace.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
22-03-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
George Foreman, the Fearsome Heavyweight Who Became a Beloved Champion, Dies at 76
George Foreman became the heavyweight champion of the world in his 20s, only to lose his belt to Muhammad Ali in perhaps the most memorable fight in boxing history. A full 20 years later in 1994, the 45-year-old Foreman became the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship, throwing one perfect combination to steal Michael Moorer's title in an epic upset. Few fighters ever had more big moments than Big George Foreman — and even after he finally left the ring, he was only getting started. The fearsome heavyweight, who lost the "Rumble in the Jungle" to Ali before his inspiring second act as a surprising champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. Foreman was 76. Foreman's family announced his death on social media, not saying how or where he died. "A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose," his family wrote. "A humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family." A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear and awe as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt. Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening. The middle-aged fighter then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history, flooring Moorer — 19 years his junior — with a surgical right hand and claiming Moorer's two heavyweight belts. Foreman's 20 years is easily the longest gap between heavyweight title reigns. Foreman's transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times — finishing 76-5 with 68 knockouts — before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor. Outside the ring, he was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which launched in the same year as his victory over Moorer. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did. "George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family," Top Rank president Bob Arum said. "We've lost a family member and are absolutely devastated." In the first chapter of his boxing career, Foreman was nothing like the smiling grandfather who hawked his grills on television to great success. Foreman dabbled in petty crime while growing up in Houston's Fifth Ward, but changed his life through boxing. He made the US Olympic team in 1968 and won gold in Mexico City as a teenager, stopping a 29-year-old opponent in a star-making performance. Foreman rose to the pinnacle of the pro game over the next five years, but was also perceived as an aloof, unfriendly athlete, both through his demeanor and through the skewed racial lenses of the time. Jim Lampley, the veteran boxing broadcaster who worked alongside Foreman for many years at HBO, told The Associated Press on Friday night that Foreman's initial demeanor was an attempt by his camp to emulate Sonny Liston, the glowering heavyweight champ of the 1960s. "At some point somewhere along the way, he realized that wasn't him," Lampley said. Foreman stopped Frazier in an upset in Jamaica in January 1973 to win the belt, with his knockout inspiring Howard Cosell's iconic call: "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!" Foreman defended his belt against Ken Norton before accepting the fight with Ali in the now-immortal bout staged in Africa by promoter Don King. Ali put on a tactical masterclass against Foreman, showing off the "rope-a-dope" strategy that frustrated and infuriated the champion. Foreman was eventually knocked down for the first time in his career, and the fight was stopped in the eighth round. Foreman told the BBC in 2014 that he took the fight almost out of charity to Ali, who he suspected to be broke. "I said I was going to go out there and kill him, and people said, 'Please, don't say you're going to kill Muhammad,'" Foreman said. "So I said, 'OK, I'll just beat him down to the ground.' That's how easy I thought the fight would be." Exhausted and disillusioned, Foreman stopped fighting in 1977 and largely spent the next decade preaching and working with kids in Houston after his religious awakening. He returned to boxing in 1987 in his late 30s with a plan to defy time through frequent ring appearances, and he racked up a lengthy series of victories before losing to Evander Holyfield in a surprisingly competitive title fight in 1991. Three years later, Foreman got in the ring with Moorer in Las Vegas, more for his celebrity than for his perceived ability to beat Moorer. The champion appeared to win the first nine rounds rather comfortably, with Foreman unable to land his slower punches. But Foreman came alive in the 10th, hurting Moorer before slipping in the short right hand that sent Moorer to the canvas in earth-shaking fashion. Lampley, who was calling the fight, named his upcoming autobiography — which includes a prologue about Foreman — after his famous call of that moment: "It Happened!" Foreman quit the ring for good in 1997, although he occasionally discussed a comeback. He settled into a life as a boxing analyst for HBO and as a pitchman for the grills that grew his fame and fortune. Much of the world soon knew Foreman as both a lovable friend and a ferocious fighter. "He started performing as this pitchman, this product pitchman with the big, ever-present giant grin on his face," Lampley recalled. "When I was working with him, people would say, 'George is a big clown.' And I would say, 'Well, you can call him a clown, but he's actually a genius. He may be the greatest genius I've ever met.' And people would say, 'Well, genius, what do you mean?' I'd say, 'Well, check the bank account. If that isn't proof enough, I don't know what is.' So, he was a genius. He was a human genius." Foreman briefly starred in a sitcom called "George" in the 1990s, and he even appeared on the reality singing competition "The Masked Singer" in 2022. A biographical movie based on his life was released in 2023. Foreman had 12 children, including five sons who are all famously named George Edward Foreman. "Legendary boxing champion, life-changing preacher, husband, father, grand- and great-grandfather and the best friend you could have," WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman wrote on social media. "His memory is now eternal, may Big George rest in peace."
