Belton, Texas 鈥� The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor hosted the 2017 McLane Lecture delivered by Olympic gold medalist and two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. The lecture was held Wednesday, March 22, in the arena of the Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center.
Foreman framed his address by telling the story of the day he shared his past with his son.
鈥淚 realized that I鈥檇 raised a nice boy, but he didn鈥檛 know anything about me,鈥� Foreman said, 鈥渟o I took him on a long ride and told him my story.鈥�
Foreman said that, as a boy, he skipped school most days. Years later, after dropping out of school, he fell in with some young men from his neighborhood who tended to get in trouble.
After an evening spent evading police, Foreman decided that he needed to change his life. He applied to the United States Department of Labor鈥檚 Job Corps program. It was during his tenure with the program that Foreman first considered trying his hand at boxing.
鈥淥ne night I was in the Job Corps center, and a boxing match came on the radio, and after the fight was over, the kids said 鈥楪eorge, you think you鈥檙e so big and tough, why don鈥檛 you become a boxer?鈥�
Taking up the challenge, Foreman transferred to California where he began training for the ring. A year later, Foreman found himself competing as part of the 1968 Olympic team in Mexico City, where he ultimately won the gold medal.
鈥淭hat was probably the happiest moment I鈥檝e ever had as an athlete,鈥� Foreman recalled. 鈥淔or the first time in my life, a dream had come true.鈥�
Following his success at the Olympics, Foreman began competing professionally.
鈥淥ne fight after another, I had these knockouts, one after another,鈥� Foreman said. 鈥淭hen finally they wanted to match me for the heavyweight championship of the world.鈥�
Foreman said that he was reluctant to fight for the title, as then-champ Joe Frazier was one of the most intimidating fighters in history.
鈥淭hey said Joe Frazier was the kind of fellow who, if you hit him, he liked it,鈥� Foreman remembered. 鈥淚f you missed him, he got upset.鈥�
Foreman went on to overwhelm Frazier, knocking him down six times in two rounds before being declared the winner and new heavyweight champion.
Foreman also recounted his epic bout with Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle. Foreman was winning the fight for several rounds before he tired and was knocked out.
鈥淗ave you ever heard of a rope-a-dope?鈥� Foreman asked the crowd. 鈥淲ell," he said, pointing to himself, "meet the dope.鈥�
鈥淲hen I lost that match,鈥� Foreman said. 鈥渋t was the first time I was ever faced with devastation.鈥�
Foreman discussed several other fights, both those he won and those he lost. Most dramatically, he shared the story of the night that, after losing a close twelve-round decision in Puerto Rico, he nearly died in his locker room. Foreman described the near-death experience as the moment in which he first found his faith in God.
鈥淚 jumped off the table and said 鈥楯esus Christ is coming alive in me,'鈥� Foreman said. 鈥淚 screamed, 鈥楬allelujah! I鈥檓 clean. I鈥檓 born again.鈥欌��
Following this experience, Foreman quit the ring and spent ten years working as an evangelist. Ultimately, he decided to return to fighting to support his family and his ministry.
In 1994, Foreman was given the chance to challenge Michael Moorer for the world championship. Foreman, then 45 years old, trailed Moorer for nine straight rounds. However, in the tenth round he landed a knockout punch and became the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
Foreman closed his lecture with some words of wisdom for the students in attendance.
鈥淎ll of you have got the world right in your palms now. Learn all you can,鈥� Foreman said. 鈥淵our life is before you, and you can do whatever you want, but believe God and put him first.鈥�
The McLane Lecture brings internationally recognized speakers to 同城快约 each year to share their experiences and insights about leadership, government, and business. The annual lecture is offered through the generosity of Temple residents Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr.
