Foreman dead at 76, according to Instagram post

My dad used to work for the California State Athletic Commission and met him during one of his comeback bouts (maybe in Sacramento for his first comeback bout?). George was friendly and took a pic with him.

My dad says basically all of the boxers he interacted with are pretty friendly and accommodating when it comes to that. The only exception would be Lennox Lewis, and to a lesser extent, Riddick Bowe and Tommy Morrison.

 

Yes and he wouldn't have lost to Tommy Morrison, nor go life and death with guys like Stewart and Schulz. This "Foreman was better in his 40s than in his 20s" stuff is all non-sense.

 

It hit me hard the fact that fighters don’t live too long.

 

Ali was quite respectable despite the things he did to his people's too,his draft-dodging? I could reason for that.

But nothing will replace how Frazier and Foreman felt like, they're genuine,two tough hardworking uncles that may be rough in their teaching methods,but in the end of the day wouldn't mind picking you up and buying some McDonalds or going to the cinema..whatever, they're somehow more relatable for me than Ali(despite being Muslim myself)

 

For my first ever time wearing gloves I imitated what I saw him doing in a highlight video, extended guard and all and put someone down with a body shot I didn’t mean to land… after being rocked LOL in a way he started me on a few questions “why are his hands out like that? Why didn’t it work for me?” That sort of thing, now I “get” it, it’s handy but he’s not who I’d watch to “get it” best - still, he and Archie Moore sent me down a rabbit hole of “understanding” if you will - I had him on my wall for a long time the Moorer KO, I have his grill, I use his grill and I enjoy watching his fights not much else… RITJ I believe was one of, if not the first fight I ever watched, I thought Ali was Foreman because he just looked bigger to me LOL.

 

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This one really stings. I love George Foreman.

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Well not entirely, different might better be the better way of wording it, I can’t see Old Foreman going life or death with Lyle.

 

Foreman hitting the heavy bag is awe inspiring.

I particularly like the end of the clip - Foreman’s execution of the jab is casual but perfect and the impact on the bag and the implied power is off the charts. He was a phenom.

 

RIP Champ.......

 

Lewis was not nice person to met?

 

Good thing Herbie Hide wasn't around in the 70s. Herbie rules the division

 

That’s a name that is hard to forget.

 

Yeah, Lennox was being an ******* when he met him that day…Bowe also sort of as well when he met him some other time. He only met each of them once, so maybe they were just having bad days. Bowe usually has a good reputation on how he is with fans and taking photos and things like that. I’ve heard posters on this forum and fightbeat speak extremely highly of Bowe on how he was when they met him.

I’m sure even the most accommodating celebrities have days in which they come across as assholes.

Terry Norris was one of the friendliest and polite boxers he met. Oscar De La Hoya was easy going, and had many women in the stands staring at him and calling his name.

One story that I remember and like is when the Ruelas Brothers were at some fight in LA, I’m guessing this was around the 93-95 range. I’ll have to ask it it was Gabe or Rafael, but my dad was assigned to walk with him, and sort of keep fans from bothering them.

Ruelas was walking in the arena or just outside it, and fans (mostly kids/teens) kept bugging him for autographs and pictures. My dad was trying to get the fans away and walk Ruelas to wherever he was supposed to go, but Ruelas politely but firmly told him “I have to, we’re not really anything without the fans” and took the time to take pics and sign a bunch of autographs.

So I always thought that was really cool and classy of him.

 

Nice to hear all this and pleasure to read because we all need to see what they are really, but some friendliest guys could be the worst trust me.

Btw you also mentioned Morrison, was he rude because I heard only praises about him with fans.