George Foreman, the hard-hitting heavyweight champion, recently opened up about a surprising fear he faced in his boxing career.
'Big' George made a name for himself with his powerful punches and incredible comeback story. He first retired in 1977 after losing to Jimmy Young, having previously lost his heavyweight titles to Muhammad Ali in the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' in 1974.
Foreman didn't stay away from the ring for long. He returned after a 10-year break with one goal in mind - to win the championship again. It wasn't an easy road back to the top. He fell short in attempts against Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison. But Foreman didn't give up.
His persistence paid off in a big way. At the age of 45, Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight titleholder in history. It was a remarkable achievement that cemented his place in boxing lore.
But what happened next might surprise you. Speaking at the Oxford Union, Foreman made a startling admission about what he did after winning that title.
"They tried to force me to fight Tony Tucker after I'd beaten Michael Moorer and I remember looking at Tony Tucker and saying 'momma didn't raise no fools. I'm not fighting him,'" Foreman said. "And they took the titles. Some people I'm not going to fight. That's the good reason, I didn't want to fight him. Too tough. I've got to tell the truth."
You can watch Foreman's full comments in this video from the Oxford Union.
Foreman's honesty is refreshing. He gave up his hard-earned titles rather than face Tucker, a fighter he saw as too dangerous. It's a rare glimpse into the mind of a champion, showing that even the toughest fighters have their limits.
Tucker was no pushover. He won the IBF World Heavyweight Title in 1987 by beating Buster Douglas. Though he lost the belt in his first defense against Mike Tyson, Tucker put up a good fight, losing by unanimous decision.
After a two-year break, Tucker came back strong. He challenged for the WBC title against Lennox Lewis in 1993, losing on points. He had a few more shots at titles against Bruce Seldon and Herbie Hide before retiring in 1998 with an impressive record of 57 wins from 65 fights.
Foreman's decision to avoid Tucker shows how unpredictable boxing can be. Even Mike Tyson, who beat Tucker, later lost to Buster Douglas in one of boxing's biggest upsets.
Foreman's admission adds a new layer to his legendary career. It shows that even the most powerful punchers in boxing history sometimes have to make tough choices to protect themselves.
