Two-time heavyweight champion, George Foreman, has revealed who delivered the hardest punch that he ever took during his two spells in the division.
Throughout his career it was Foreman who was notorious for his punch power and has cemented his legacy in the sport as one of the hardest-hitters of all-time.
‘Big George’ hung up the gloves aged just 28-year-old, with a record of 45-2, and a staggering forty-two knockouts to his name. The legendary comeback of Foreman led to him becoming the oldest world champion in heavyweight history at the age forty-five and further ensures his position amongst the all-time greats.
In an interview with BlackTreeTV, Foreman claimed that the hardest puncher he faced was Ron Lyle in 1976, a fight which he won by fifth-round knockout in a back and forth classic. The contest was later nicknamed ‘The Elevator Fight’, with both men up and down during the bout.
“Well, I fought a guy by the name of Ron Lyle. This guy hit me so hard that it didn’t even hurt, I would just find myself on the canvas, knocked down, face first. I kept getting up, he knocked me down again, I think that he beat me up so bad that finally he gave out and I won the boxing match. That is the most hard that I have ever been hit.”
Foreman’s life has now been made into a film, with ‘Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World’ now being available to watch in U.K. cinema’s. The movie covers all aspects of Foreman’s life, both inside and outside of the ring, including his rise to the top, comeback and life after boxing.