I was watching a quiz on TV earlier and they asked a boxing question. It was "Which heavyweight boxer who had 76 wins, 68 by knockout and was nicknamed 'The Haywood Giant', Joe Louis, George Foreman or Jack Johnson?". ....Eh? Has he ever gone by that nickname? I'd never heard it before. I'm sure they did say "Haywood", but I wasn't really watching, so maybe I'm wrong in that. Even if I am, I'm not a million miles away. And I've never heard anything even close to what was said in the question. The only nickname I know he had was "Big". Anyone else see the program? It was off Eggheads on BBC2 at 6pm. Anyone got a clue if it was his nickname?
Unless he left it out in his autobiography, he was never "The Haywood Giant." Jack Johnson was, of course, the "Galveston Giant", but he did not hold that record. And Joe Louis is off on both accounts. And a Google search turned up nothing about Foreman having that name.
Yes, George did spend some time in Haywood California,,,,both as an amateur with Doc Broadus and at the start of his professional career.
George did indeed spend time in Heywood , with Doc involved with the Jobs corps.. Doc later turned Foreman pro along with Dick Saddler and Archie Moore. I have heard that expression only in passing but it was never a day to day nickname..