Why did Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley doubt Foreman

I believe many in the media thought it was a farce but they sure loved it. George sold it masterfully. It was fun because he was so different than he had been. You couldn't write this stuff in Hollywood.

When Foreman KOd Cooney I don't think it did much to make him creditable. When he challenged Holyfield and put up a strong fight the. Joke thing was dead.

 

I'm sure Jim Lamplwy doubted Foreman as a boxing analyst. He would set George up only to watch Foreman take the ball and run 100 yards in the wrong direction.

 

Well, Foreman was cherry picking guys, likely lost a to Stewart. He lost to Holyfield and Morrison in title matches by a wide margin.

Foreman got a third chance, I think as a sub to meet Moorer.

Moorer was easily in the lead. Foreman had a puncher's chance and Moorer a light heavyweight type of chin for him to capitalize on. I do think Lampley was genuinely surprised and pleased when Foreman won. As he aptly put it. It happened.

 

In the 80's, I saw George on a street corner in Houston as a Preacher, handing out little Bibles and helping people. After he won the title on a "out of nowhere, late fight punch", I was fortunate enough to shake his hand at a Dallas book signing.