- GEORGE FOREMAN
Years active: 1969-77; 1987-97
Record: 76-5 (68 KOs)
Championship reign(s): 1973-74; 1994-95
Biggest victories: Joe Frazier (twice), Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, Gerry Cooney, Michael Moorer
Biggest losses: Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Young, Evander Holyfield, Tommy Morrison
Background: Foreman, like rival Muhammad Ali, had two incarnations. In the first, he was a brooding, chiseled behemoth and destroyed everyone in his path. That included the great Joe Frazier, who lost the heavyweight crown to Foreman by knockout in 1973. Big George seemed to be unstoppable. And then he met Ali and his rope-a-dope strategy in Zaire, where his then-perfect record and aura of invincibility took a beating. Foreman fought a few more times and then went away to pursue a second career as a minster. He was gone for a decade. When he returned, he remained strong but had added paunch. And his intimidating persona gave way to his jovial nature, which would make him one of the greatest pitchmen of his generation. Foreman fought his way back into shape and into position to fight for a major belt. After failing in two title shots, the then-45-year-old secured a fight with beltholder Michael Moorer in 1994. Moorer was winning the fight when a right hand split his gloves and knocked him out, making Foreman a heavyweight titleholder again 20 years after losing that distinction against Ali.