1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:14,067 Speaker 1: from Newstalks, edb'. 3 00:00:13,187 --> 00:00:17,547 Speaker 2: Sadness in the Boxing World with legendary boxer George Foreman 4 00:00:17,907 --> 00:00:21,227 Speaker 2: passing away yesterday at the age of seventy six. The 5 00:00:21,227 --> 00:00:25,707 Speaker 2: big punching American heavyweight won Olympic gold at the nineteen 6 00:00:25,827 --> 00:00:29,427 Speaker 2: sixty eight Mexico Games when he was just nineteen, and 7 00:00:29,507 --> 00:00:32,827 Speaker 2: became world champion for the first time in nineteen seventy three, 8 00:00:33,267 --> 00:00:37,307 Speaker 2: stunning the then undefeated Joe Fraser, knocking him down six 9 00:00:37,427 --> 00:00:39,467 Speaker 2: times in the first two rounds. 10 00:00:39,787 --> 00:00:43,067 Speaker 3: I think he hurt Joe Fraser. I think Joe is hurt. 11 00:00:44,307 --> 00:00:47,387 Speaker 3: Angie dun Dili's trainer right next to me is saying 12 00:00:47,387 --> 00:00:52,667 Speaker 3: that you may hear him down. Goes Frasier, Down, goes Frasier, Down, 13 00:00:52,787 --> 00:00:57,507 Speaker 3: goes Fraser. The heavyweight champion is taking the mandatory eight 14 00:00:57,627 --> 00:01:01,027 Speaker 3: count and Farman is as poised as can be in 15 00:01:01,107 --> 00:01:04,467 Speaker 3: a new dral corner. It is over. It is over. 16 00:01:05,387 --> 00:01:06,067 Speaker 1: It is over. 17 00:01:06,387 --> 00:01:11,187 Speaker 2: In the second round, George Perman, it's the heavyweight champion. 18 00:01:10,987 --> 00:01:11,747 Speaker 3: Up, not round. 19 00:01:12,227 --> 00:01:15,307 Speaker 2: You love the commentary. Then a couple of years later, 20 00:01:15,947 --> 00:01:19,547 Speaker 2: George Foreman lost to Muhammad Ali That was nineteen seventy four, 21 00:01:19,747 --> 00:01:23,427 Speaker 2: in the still iconic Rumble in the Jungle in Ziam. 22 00:01:23,587 --> 00:01:25,987 Speaker 2: Maybe this is a bit of tactic, go Bali to 23 00:01:26,067 --> 00:01:29,947 Speaker 2: let the man want him so board thirty seconds left 24 00:01:29,987 --> 00:01:32,507 Speaker 2: in round eight another. 25 00:01:32,307 --> 00:01:34,907 Speaker 4: Speaking right hand to stand, he worked over the shore 26 00:01:34,947 --> 00:01:35,827 Speaker 4: of Coman. 27 00:01:58,827 --> 00:01:59,227 Speaker 1: George. 28 00:02:00,427 --> 00:02:03,947 Speaker 2: That was Foreman's first professional loss to Muhammad Ali. He 29 00:02:04,067 --> 00:02:07,827 Speaker 2: retired George Foreman in nineteen seventy seven, but then in 30 00:02:07,867 --> 00:02:11,027 Speaker 2: one of the great comebacks, he returned to boxing, and 31 00:02:11,067 --> 00:02:14,107 Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety four, at the age of forty five, 32 00:02:14,587 --> 00:02:17,867 Speaker 2: he became the oldest world heavyweight champion in history, knocking 33 00:02:17,907 --> 00:02:20,187 Speaker 2: out twenty six year old Michael Mora. 34 00:02:20,627 --> 00:02:24,027 Speaker 3: Michael Moore, is that goes far on a right hand, 35 00:02:24,747 --> 00:02:37,107 Speaker 3: an unbelievably constant right hand shot. How it happens? It happened. 36 00:02:39,387 --> 00:02:42,147 Speaker 3: I can't believe it. You know, this is a two 37 00:02:42,187 --> 00:02:45,147 Speaker 3: to one faith But in my mind it was a 38 00:02:45,187 --> 00:02:48,067 Speaker 3: gazillion to one that George Foreman could ever win a. 39 00:02:48,067 --> 00:02:49,467 Speaker 1: Heavyweight championship again. 40 00:02:50,667 --> 00:02:54,067 Speaker 3: So some of the old power was still there, after. 41 00:02:53,867 --> 00:02:57,747 Speaker 2: All, it wasn't a overall. George Foreman boasted and astonishing 42 00:02:57,907 --> 00:03:02,147 Speaker 2: seventy six wins, including sixty eight by knockout. That's almost 43 00:03:02,147 --> 00:03:06,507 Speaker 2: double the number of Muhammad Ali. British boxing giant and 44 00:03:06,787 --> 00:03:11,107 Speaker 2: chair of matchrom Boxing and the world's leading sports promoter, 45 00:03:11,347 --> 00:03:15,547 Speaker 2: Eddie Hearn is with us to remember George Foreman. Eddie, 46 00:03:15,547 --> 00:03:18,187 Speaker 2: thanks for joining us across New Zealand on weekend sport Hell. 47 00:03:18,707 --> 00:03:20,707 Speaker 2: Will you remember George Foreman? 48 00:03:21,507 --> 00:03:24,227 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean iconic really in so many ways. I think, 49 00:03:24,267 --> 00:03:26,947 Speaker 4: you know, for me growing up, it was more about 50 00:03:26,987 --> 00:03:30,027 Speaker 4: the comeback. You know, this giant of an older man 51 00:03:30,107 --> 00:03:34,267 Speaker 4: really who seemed to have dynamite in his fists, and 52 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:39,107 Speaker 4: I think the remarkable thing was obviously for me the 53 00:03:39,147 --> 00:03:42,587 Speaker 4: second phase of the career and doing it at that age. 54 00:03:42,667 --> 00:03:45,987 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, the older generations, probably my dad 55 00:03:46,027 --> 00:03:48,787 Speaker 4: and people like that, would really talk about, you know, 56 00:03:48,827 --> 00:03:51,507 Speaker 4: the fights with Fraser, particularly the first one in Jamaica. 57 00:03:51,587 --> 00:03:53,427 Speaker 4: I mean that was you know, he went over there 58 00:03:53,467 --> 00:03:56,707 Speaker 4: really as an opponent and knocked out Fraser in his 59 00:03:56,787 --> 00:04:00,547 Speaker 4: homecoming in Jamaica. Obviously beat him twice, of course the 60 00:04:00,587 --> 00:04:03,267 Speaker 4: Rumble in the Jungle. But for me kind of like 61 00:04:03,307 --> 00:04:06,507 Speaker 4: the second phase, and I think people forget about that 62 00:04:06,627 --> 00:04:09,227 Speaker 4: route to become world heavyweight champion for the second time. 63 00:04:09,267 --> 00:04:11,867 Speaker 4: It wasn't that he just came back in the ring 64 00:04:11,907 --> 00:04:13,827 Speaker 4: and had one or two fights. He went on a 65 00:04:13,827 --> 00:04:16,427 Speaker 4: long run, you know, ten years out of the ring, 66 00:04:16,467 --> 00:04:19,347 Speaker 4: and then came back. Actually lost to Tommy Morrison in 67 00:04:19,387 --> 00:04:22,747 Speaker 4: the fight before Michael Mora when he become world heavyweight champion. 68 00:04:22,787 --> 00:04:25,227 Speaker 4: And I remember that fight so clearly watching that when 69 00:04:25,267 --> 00:04:27,587 Speaker 4: he knocked him out. I think Mara was twenty three 70 00:04:27,627 --> 00:04:30,947 Speaker 4: and a zero at the time. You know, he was 71 00:04:30,987 --> 00:04:34,507 Speaker 4: a a teddy at this fighter, very well regarded, and 72 00:04:34,507 --> 00:04:37,307 Speaker 4: he just flattened him with an uppercut and you know, 73 00:04:37,627 --> 00:04:41,187 Speaker 4: became a champion again. You know. Obviously people also know 74 00:04:41,267 --> 00:04:43,627 Speaker 4: him outside of the boxing world for his products and 75 00:04:43,667 --> 00:04:46,587 Speaker 4: his books, and he's grill and just just the sort 76 00:04:46,627 --> 00:04:49,667 Speaker 4: of big, cuddly bear really. But in the early days 77 00:04:49,667 --> 00:04:52,667 Speaker 4: of his career, he was a real beast of a fighter, 78 00:04:53,147 --> 00:04:56,467 Speaker 4: you know, a strong, strong man and you know, cuddly George, 79 00:04:56,787 --> 00:04:58,947 Speaker 4: you know, lovable George. I met him once and he 80 00:04:59,027 --> 00:05:01,427 Speaker 4: was just just had a huge smile on his face 81 00:05:01,467 --> 00:05:01,987 Speaker 4: all the time. 82 00:05:02,627 --> 00:05:06,347 Speaker 2: How important is the history of boxing the iconic thing 83 00:05:06,587 --> 00:05:10,387 Speaker 2: is like George Foreman, like Fraser, like Ali In modern times, 84 00:05:10,707 --> 00:05:13,227 Speaker 2: how important is it that we still remember you know, 85 00:05:13,387 --> 00:05:15,987 Speaker 2: the great of the sport from those glory years of 86 00:05:16,027 --> 00:05:17,147 Speaker 2: the sixties and seventies. 87 00:05:17,987 --> 00:05:21,947 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, legacy is really only kind of evaluated 88 00:05:21,987 --> 00:05:26,947 Speaker 4: over time and unfortunately sometimes through passing. You know, I 89 00:05:27,027 --> 00:05:31,187 Speaker 4: think in current sporting terms, you don't really talk about 90 00:05:31,347 --> 00:05:33,427 Speaker 4: the effect that a player or a fighter, or a 91 00:05:33,427 --> 00:05:36,947 Speaker 4: sportsman or an athlete has had under sport. It's only 92 00:05:36,987 --> 00:05:39,467 Speaker 4: really when you reflect on them. And sometimes it's at 93 00:05:39,467 --> 00:05:42,147 Speaker 4: moments like this and you sort of go back over 94 00:05:42,187 --> 00:05:45,227 Speaker 4: the history of time and there's very few people who 95 00:05:45,387 --> 00:05:49,387 Speaker 4: can walk in in that group that Foreman has walked in, 96 00:05:49,507 --> 00:05:51,547 Speaker 4: and it is you know, I mean our league can 97 00:05:51,547 --> 00:05:53,907 Speaker 4: sometimes be a standout, but it is you know, frasier 98 00:05:53,907 --> 00:05:56,587 Speaker 4: and listening, and Foreman was beyond those guys. You know, 99 00:05:56,667 --> 00:05:59,827 Speaker 4: Foreman carried himself for a long period of time. Foreman 100 00:05:59,947 --> 00:06:03,787 Speaker 4: came back to to win you know, two heavyweight world championship. 101 00:06:03,787 --> 00:06:06,067 Speaker 4: He was an Olympic gold medalist as well, and you know, 102 00:06:06,067 --> 00:06:07,707 Speaker 4: he did a lot outside the ring as well. And 103 00:06:07,787 --> 00:06:09,507 Speaker 4: it'll be sadly missed as. 104 00:06:09,427 --> 00:06:11,707 Speaker 2: Far as coming back like he did. You alluded to 105 00:06:11,747 --> 00:06:15,667 Speaker 2: it before, but just how challenging must that have been 106 00:06:15,907 --> 00:06:18,947 Speaker 2: for him, How challenging. Is it for a forty five 107 00:06:19,027 --> 00:06:21,347 Speaker 2: year old to get back in the ring against much 108 00:06:21,387 --> 00:06:23,307 Speaker 2: younger men and win again? 109 00:06:24,587 --> 00:06:27,467 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think it's the only division you can do 110 00:06:27,507 --> 00:06:30,067 Speaker 4: it is the heavyweight division. But again, you've never seen it, 111 00:06:30,267 --> 00:06:33,427 Speaker 4: you know, you've never seen a guy who's been iconic 112 00:06:33,827 --> 00:06:36,307 Speaker 4: and regarded as the best heavyweight work, you know, in 113 00:06:36,347 --> 00:06:40,427 Speaker 4: the world of the prime and then come back ten 114 00:06:40,507 --> 00:06:42,187 Speaker 4: years later. I mean, I think I don't know the 115 00:06:42,187 --> 00:06:45,067 Speaker 4: exact time, but he didn't win the world championship ten 116 00:06:45,147 --> 00:06:47,987 Speaker 4: years after the comeback. The comeback was ten years later. 117 00:06:48,587 --> 00:06:50,547 Speaker 4: It took a good few years for him to challenge 118 00:06:50,547 --> 00:06:52,027 Speaker 4: for the world heavyweight title, and he did it off 119 00:06:52,067 --> 00:06:54,867 Speaker 4: the back of a defeat, which is quite rare, you know. 120 00:06:55,067 --> 00:06:57,667 Speaker 4: And again he went into that Michael morri fire that 121 00:06:57,747 --> 00:07:01,547 Speaker 4: they picked George Foreman as a name for that fight. 122 00:07:02,227 --> 00:07:04,787 Speaker 4: When he came back, it wasn't like he was the 123 00:07:04,827 --> 00:07:08,267 Speaker 4: best heavyweight in the world. People criticized his comeback actually, 124 00:07:08,307 --> 00:07:10,507 Speaker 4: you know, and said, why is this guy coming back 125 00:07:10,547 --> 00:07:14,667 Speaker 4: now he's forty odd years old. It's dangerous, it's this 126 00:07:14,827 --> 00:07:18,747 Speaker 4: and that, and his performances were that not of a 127 00:07:18,827 --> 00:07:21,867 Speaker 4: normal forty year old, but certainly of a forty year old. 128 00:07:21,907 --> 00:07:24,107 Speaker 4: And actually there were times where I remember watching him 129 00:07:24,147 --> 00:07:26,747 Speaker 4: thinking I don't want to see him by anymore, don't 130 00:07:26,747 --> 00:07:29,507 Speaker 4: see him take punishment. And they rolled him out against 131 00:07:29,507 --> 00:07:32,027 Speaker 4: Michael Mora as like, oh he's a good name, you know, 132 00:07:32,067 --> 00:07:34,467 Speaker 4: that would be good for the record, and he knocks 133 00:07:34,547 --> 00:07:36,467 Speaker 4: him out to win, and it was just such a 134 00:07:36,467 --> 00:07:39,027 Speaker 4: mad moment. And if you haven't seen it, watch it 135 00:07:39,067 --> 00:07:42,227 Speaker 4: back and sort look at his face. You know, he 136 00:07:42,227 --> 00:07:45,227 Speaker 4: didn't actually seem that surprise when he won that fight. 137 00:07:45,427 --> 00:07:50,387 Speaker 4: And yeah, it's never recommended to turn back to such 138 00:07:50,387 --> 00:07:52,747 Speaker 4: a dangerous boot at that age, but you know, he 139 00:07:52,787 --> 00:07:55,027 Speaker 4: did it, and what he did will always be remembered. 140 00:07:55,467 --> 00:07:57,907 Speaker 2: You mentioned idiot met him once. What was he like 141 00:07:57,947 --> 00:07:58,427 Speaker 2: in person? 142 00:07:59,907 --> 00:08:05,107 Speaker 4: Just like a big sort of you know, big bear, 143 00:08:05,507 --> 00:08:09,507 Speaker 4: really like had time for everybody, you know, big smile 144 00:08:09,547 --> 00:08:12,907 Speaker 4: on his face, and one of those guys like it's 145 00:08:12,947 --> 00:08:15,067 Speaker 4: not I've been around boxing since I was eight. There's 146 00:08:15,147 --> 00:08:16,827 Speaker 4: very few people that I would look at and go, 147 00:08:17,147 --> 00:08:20,667 Speaker 4: oh my god, look there's George, you know, and ask 148 00:08:20,747 --> 00:08:23,787 Speaker 4: for a photo as well, And he's definitely one of them. 149 00:08:24,387 --> 00:08:28,227 Speaker 4: And there's probably that's probably a list of five or 150 00:08:28,267 --> 00:08:31,347 Speaker 4: six fighters that you could read off you know, Mike Tyson, Sugar, 151 00:08:31,427 --> 00:08:38,747 Speaker 4: Ray Leonard, probably Jeran Hagler, Lewis Lens Lewis, you know, 152 00:08:38,827 --> 00:08:41,467 Speaker 4: George Forman, Like there's a very slight risk for me 153 00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:43,307 Speaker 4: who around these people every day. But that was like, 154 00:08:43,307 --> 00:08:45,227 Speaker 4: oh my god, look there's George Foreman and that that 155 00:08:45,307 --> 00:08:45,907 Speaker 4: says it all. 156 00:08:46,307 --> 00:08:49,267 Speaker 2: Really, it does? It does. Can you see heavyweight box 157 00:08:49,307 --> 00:08:52,947 Speaker 2: and returning to those glamor days of the fighters you've 158 00:08:52,987 --> 00:08:53,787 Speaker 2: just reeled off? 159 00:08:54,707 --> 00:08:56,427 Speaker 4: To be honest, I think when we talk about glamour 160 00:08:56,507 --> 00:08:59,227 Speaker 4: days again, that only comes when you look back. I 161 00:08:59,227 --> 00:09:01,467 Speaker 4: think we're actually in a wonderful period at the moment. 162 00:09:01,507 --> 00:09:04,067 Speaker 4: You know, we just had Fury, you sick twice. You know, 163 00:09:04,107 --> 00:09:06,467 Speaker 4: you had Dubois Joshua in front of ninety six six 164 00:09:06,507 --> 00:09:09,067 Speaker 4: thousand at Wembley, you know, but there's so many good 165 00:09:09,067 --> 00:09:11,827 Speaker 4: contenders now, Like you know, Caveat against Zang was great, 166 00:09:11,907 --> 00:09:17,347 Speaker 4: Joseph Parker's making a run. You know, I think during 167 00:09:17,387 --> 00:09:19,307 Speaker 4: that time when these guys are around, no one was 168 00:09:19,347 --> 00:09:22,307 Speaker 4: really saying, wow, this is a golden time. Wow that 169 00:09:22,507 --> 00:09:24,907 Speaker 4: like you just look back at those fights over history 170 00:09:24,907 --> 00:09:27,067 Speaker 4: in time and say what a period that was. It's 171 00:09:27,107 --> 00:09:29,187 Speaker 4: a bit like the Four Kings, you know, Hagler, Herns 172 00:09:29,187 --> 00:09:31,827 Speaker 4: and Leonard and Duran. At the time, no one was going, 173 00:09:32,147 --> 00:09:33,907 Speaker 4: oh what a time this is for box this is 174 00:09:33,947 --> 00:09:36,427 Speaker 4: a glory years. But then you look back at those 175 00:09:36,467 --> 00:09:39,187 Speaker 4: moments and say what a period that was, and we 176 00:09:39,307 --> 00:09:40,907 Speaker 4: get to do that with Foreman, and I think we 177 00:09:40,987 --> 00:09:43,867 Speaker 4: will do that for the heavyweight division now. But you know, 178 00:09:43,867 --> 00:09:45,747 Speaker 4: we've got to keep making sure the best fight. 179 00:09:45,667 --> 00:09:47,707 Speaker 2: The best, and just to finis just while I've got 180 00:09:47,747 --> 00:09:49,947 Speaker 2: you with a New Zealand audience across our country, what 181 00:09:49,987 --> 00:09:51,587 Speaker 2: do you predict for Joseph Parker? I know, you know, 182 00:09:51,667 --> 00:09:54,267 Speaker 2: I'm well, this fight with Daniel Dubois didn't go ahead 183 00:09:54,307 --> 00:09:56,347 Speaker 2: last month. Will he get the chance to fight Usa 184 00:09:56,427 --> 00:09:58,987 Speaker 2: Kez ordered by the WBO? Do you think? 185 00:09:59,907 --> 00:10:02,027 Speaker 4: I hope so? I mean he really deserves his shot. 186 00:10:02,067 --> 00:10:03,907 Speaker 4: I mean I'd love Joe in and out of the ring. 187 00:10:03,947 --> 00:10:07,027 Speaker 4: I think he's just a tremendous man and he's worked 188 00:10:07,067 --> 00:10:09,067 Speaker 4: so hard and when you look at his recent victories, 189 00:10:09,947 --> 00:10:15,627 Speaker 4: you know Zie Laisin Bakoli just recently as well Deonte Wilder, 190 00:10:15,987 --> 00:10:17,667 Speaker 4: how can you not give him a shot? I would 191 00:10:17,667 --> 00:10:19,307 Speaker 4: like to see him fight Daniel Duboit I mean that 192 00:10:19,347 --> 00:10:23,147 Speaker 4: fight was contracted, that fight was made, and Dubois pulled 193 00:10:23,147 --> 00:10:26,027 Speaker 4: out twenty four hours before the fight, So for me, 194 00:10:26,187 --> 00:10:28,867 Speaker 4: that fight should be rescheduled. And I think it can 195 00:10:28,907 --> 00:10:32,027 Speaker 4: beat Daniel dub Wat Whosik's a tougher ask. But Joe's 196 00:10:32,027 --> 00:10:35,827 Speaker 4: in great form, great spirits, physically, personally, emotion like you know, 197 00:10:35,867 --> 00:10:38,227 Speaker 4: and I think he could win the world heavyweight title. 198 00:10:38,267 --> 00:10:39,467 Speaker 4: So hopefully gets his shot. 199 00:10:39,507 --> 00:10:41,907 Speaker 2: Lie type. So yeah, he appreciate your A very busy 200 00:10:41,907 --> 00:10:44,227 Speaker 2: man with a very busy shoede. Oh Sydney, last night, 201 00:10:44,267 --> 00:10:44,747 Speaker 2: how did that go? 202 00:10:45,867 --> 00:10:49,307 Speaker 4: Amazing? It was an amazing night, our first ever show 203 00:10:49,307 --> 00:10:53,347 Speaker 4: in Sydney. George Cambosa's returned for a young kid from 204 00:10:53,467 --> 00:10:56,147 Speaker 4: Queensland who just did not stop. I mean they had 205 00:10:56,147 --> 00:10:59,267 Speaker 4: an absolute war. And yeah, it was a great night 206 00:10:59,307 --> 00:11:01,027 Speaker 4: of boxing in Sydney. And now we're off on the 207 00:11:01,027 --> 00:11:03,627 Speaker 4: plane back to Manchester for a show on Friday. 208 00:11:03,667 --> 00:11:06,107 Speaker 2: So it doesn't stop, it does not stop again. Thank 209 00:11:06,107 --> 00:11:08,147 Speaker 2: you so much for your time remembering George Foreman. Eddie 210 00:11:08,147 --> 00:11:09,547 Speaker 2: really appreciate you taking our call. 211 00:11:09,907 --> 00:11:11,987 Speaker 4: Thanks, take care you take care to Eddie. 212 00:11:11,947 --> 00:11:16,187 Speaker 2: Hearn the one and only on George Foreman and some 213 00:11:16,387 --> 00:11:19,147 Speaker 2: call comments at the end there about Joseph Parker as well. 214 00:11:19,827 --> 00:11:22,987 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 215 00:11:23,107 --> 00:11:26,387 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 216 00:11:26,427 --> 00:11:28,027 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.