George Foreman to Receive $20 Million for a Boxing Match - 2004-02-18

George Foreman, the 55-year-old boxer, has agreed to participate in a boxing match for $20 million, according to Don King, the promoter of professional boxing in the United States. This match will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the boxing match between Foreman and Muhammad Ali, which ended in Foreman's defeat. King adds that Foreman needs to get into ideal shape and wants to prove to the world that aging is not something to fear. The last time Foreman fought was in 1997 against Shannon Briggs for the heavyweight boxing championship, which he lost. However, since then, Foreman has maintained his fame through selling grills, participating in commercials including for car exhausts, and sports commentary. As of today, no date has been set for this match, and no lineup of opponents has been formed, but Foreman expresses a desire for the match to take place in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Foreman won his first heavyweight title by knocking out Joe Frazier in 1973. The following year, in Zaire, he lost this title to Muhammad Ali in a match famously known as 'The Rumble in the Jungle.' Foreman was retired for 10 years but decided to return to boxing in 1987. At the age of 45, on the 20th anniversary of his match with Muhammad Ali, he became the oldest boxer to win the heavyweight championship by knocking out Michael Moorer in 1994. His record stands at 76 wins (68 by knockout) and 5 losses.