The Top Five George Foreman Knockouts

Sports - Boxing

By: Anthonyj74 24-Feb-2011

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Introduction:

George Foreman was a devastating puncher who produced many spectacular kayo's during his career. He has one of the highest knockout percentages in heavyweight history. Below is my list of Foreman's top five knockouts!

Joe Frazier - KO 2

This is the kayo that put "Big" George on the map and made him king of the heavyweights in 1973. Smokin' Joe Frazier fought Foreman to stay busy; he had a projected rematch in the works against the "Greatest," Muhammad Ali, and needed to stay sharp. Foreman was viewed as a big and strong but untested opponent; an opponent who lacked the polish and skill to seriously challenge a fighter of Frazier's pedigree. But whatever Foreman lacked in refinement, he made up for with brute strength. Frazier found this out in a hurry! He dropped Frazier three times in the first round, hammering the bewildered champion with sweeping hooks and pulverizing rights. Foreman kept swinging, and Frazier kept falling! Through sheer determination, Frazier made it to the second round, but after being knocked down three more times, and with a glassy-eyed, jelly-legged appearance, the referee called a halt to the massacre. George Foreman was now heavyweight champion of the world!

Ken Norton - KO 2

Ken "Hercules" Norton was a tremendous physical specimen: bulging biceps, beefy chest, and tight, ripped abs. Norton looked like a strongman contestant. And he could fight, too! He split a pair of fights with the great Muhammad Ali: winning the first fight, then losing the second by the narrowest of margins. The oddsmakers bet that Norton would give new champion George Foreman a stern test. Norton managed to avoid Foreman in the first round, backpedaling, dodging, and ducking his way out of danger. But Foreman was methodical, even ominous, in his pursuit; one had the feeling that this fight was not going to last long, regardless of the odds. Well, early in the second round, Foreman nullified the odds by sending Norton crashing into the ropes with a wicked uppercut. Norton was stunned; the swiftness and brutality of Foreman's assault was unreal. Rising unsteadily, Norton was bounced off the canvas twice more before his corner mercifully halted the proceedings. A signature win for George Foreman!

Ron Lyle - KO 5

George Foreman had no idea the hell he was about to endure as he stepped into the ring to fight Ronnie Lyle. Sure, Lyle was big and strong, and he had some good wins on his resume. But he wasn't viewed as being on par with "Big" George Foreman, who had hammers in his fists. Well, late in the first round, Foreman realized that Lyle had a hammer or two, staggering Foreman with a blockbuster right cross. Only the bell saved Foreman from future abuse. But the fight soon evolved into a hardcore brawl, as Lyle knocked Foreman down -- and hard! George rose on unsteady legs, then he put Lyle down with a barrage of punches. Back and forth they went, with Foreman being dropped onto his face at one point, barely beating the count. Somehow, Foreman rallied and managed to stop Lyle with a barrage of punches in the fifth round. Lyle literally crumbled to the canvas. George Foreman proved his heart and fighting spirit against Ron Lyle.

Gerry Cooney - KO 2

George Foreman was 19 fights into his comeback when he met "Gentleman" Gerry Cooney, a six-foot-six inch, 235-pound heavyweight with a bonebreaking left hook. Never mind that Cooney had been inactive since 1987, when he was knocked out by Michael Spinks. Cooney was big, strong, and he was on the comeback trail. He figured to test the legitimacy of "Big" George's comeback with a few howitzer left hooks. And that he did. Cooney won the first round, raking Foreman with powerful left hooks to the body, and even stunning Big George with a well-placed left hook to the head. But in the second round, Foreman got busy. He quickly bulled Cooney to the ropes and landed a devastating combination that dropped Cooney. Rising but obviously shaken, Cooney walked into a devastating Foreman uppercut that froze him, and a smashing overhand right dropped him face down, where he was counted out. The most spectacular kayo of Foreman's comeback!

Michael Moorer - KO 10

George Foreman's knockout of Michael Moorer was, to say the least, unexpected. Ol' George, all 45-years and 250-pounds of him, was seen as an easy first defense for champion Michael Moorer, who won the title with a decision win over Evander Holyfield. The tougher fights, against the likes of Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, and Mike Tyson would come; most champions are entitled to an easy first defense. Enter George Foreman, who lost his last fight to Tommy Morrison, 13-months prior to fighting Moorer. And for nine rounds, it looked like Moorer was going to coast to an easy points victory over the plodding preacher, as Moorer peppered Foreman with jabs and straight lefts. But Foreman kept coming, landing a hard shot here and there, but never seriously threatening. Until the 10th round. As Moorer stood still, Foreman uncorked a left followed by a sneaky right that froze Moorer; a follow up straight right nailed Moorer on the chin and sent him crashing to the canvas. He never threatened to beat the count. "Big" George Foreman was heavyweight champion of the world again at age 45!