Two Time World Heavyweight Boxing Champ

1968 Olympic Gold Medalist

(1949-2025) Known as "Big George," he was born in Marshall, Texas. Foreman won a gold medal in the heavyweight boxing division at the 1968 Olympic Games held at Mexico City. In the finals, he whipped the Soviet Union's Jonas Cepulis when the referee stopped the fight in the second round after Foreman gave him a complete pummeling. Having turned professional the next year, he won the world heavyweight boxing title with a stunning second-round knockout of the then-undefeated Joe Frazier in 1973. He defended the belt twice before suffering his first professional loss to Muhammad Ali in the famous fight nicknamed "The Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974. Unable to get another title opportunity, Foreman retired after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977. Following what he referred to as a born again experience, Foreman became an ordained Christian minister. After a ten year hiatus he later announced a comeback, and in 1994 at the age of 45 won the unified WBA, IBF, and lineal heavyweight championship titles by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer. He dropped the WBA belt rather than face his mandatory title defense soon after, and following a single successful title defense against Axel Schulz, Foreman relinquished his IBF title as well on June 28, 1995. At 46 years and 169 days old, he was the oldest world heavyweight champion in professional boxing history. He retired in 1997 at the age of 48, with a final record of 76 wins, 68 of them by knockout, and 5 losses. One of the most famous losses came at the hands of legendary Muhammad Ali who hit him with a lightning fast 1–2 combination which were considered "the fastest punches" Foreman had ever seen! He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The International Boxing Organization rates George Foreman as the eighth-greatest heavyweight of all time. He was a ringside analyst for HBO's boxing coverage for 12 years until 2004. Outside of boxing, the very amiable Foreman was a successful entrepreneur and became well known for his promotion of the "George Foreman Grill," which sold more than 100 million units worldwide by 2011. He sold the commercial rights to the grill for $138 million dollars. Foreman had 12 children, five sons and seven daughters. His five sons are all named George; George Jr.; George III ("Monk"); George IV ("Big Wheel"); George V ("Red"); and George VI ("Little Joey"). Foreman explained, "I named all my sons George Edward Foreman so they would always have something in common. I said to them, 'If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, we all go down together!" In recognition of Foreman's patriotism and community service, the American Legion honored him with its James V. Day "Good Guy" Award during its 95th National Convention in 2013. Foreman died at a hospital in Houston, Texas, on March 21, 2025, at the age of 76, and will go down in history as one of the greats of all time!

Card Signature: 5 x 3 unlined card beautifully signed in ink, Best Wishes, George Foreman. It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity by James S. Spence Authentication with a matching serial number on the COA and its matching numbered JSA sticker on the reverse of the autographed card. This wonderful piece comes with a second COA card that was issued by Global Authentication Inc., with their matching certificate number on the COA as well as on the autographed Foreman autographed 5 x 3 card. Superb large and bold signature that is in choice condition. This would make a great addition to any professional boxing or George Foreman collection. Extremely desirable!