Michael Moorer vs. George Foreman
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| Date | November 5, 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Venue | MGM Grand in Paradise, Nevada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title(s) on the line | WBA/IBF/Lineal Heavyweight Championships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Boxer | Michael Moorer | George Foreman | |
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| Nickname | "Double M" | "Big" | |
| Hometown | Brooklyn, New York, US | Houston, Texas US | |
| Pre-fight record | 35–0 | 72–4 | |
| Height | 6'2" | 6'3" | |
| Weight | 222 lb | 250 lb | |
| Style | Southpaw | Orthodox | |
| Recognition | WBA/IBF/Lineal Heavyweight Champion |
IBF #8 Ranked Heavyweight |
Michael Moorer vs. George Foreman, billed as "One for the Ages", was a professional boxing match contested on November 5, 1994 for the WBA, IBF and Lineal Heavyweight championships.
On April 22, 1994, Moorer defeated Evander Holyfield by decision to wrest the title, which Holyfield had regained from Riddick Bowe in his previous bout, from the two-time champion. Foreman, at 45, had been on the comeback trail for several years after choosing to end his ten-plus year retirement. He had received a shot at Holyfield's undisputed world championship in 1991 but was defeated. Foreman also had not fought since being defeated by Tommy Morrison for the then-fringe World Boxing Organization championship.
There were talks about Moorer possibly meeting WBC Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis in a match that would once again unify the three major heavywight titles, but Moorer rejected the idea, stating that he didn't have the desire to do so. Foreman then issued a challenge to the newly crowned champion, and his status as one of the most popular fighters in the sport along with the promise of a big payday led to Moorer ultimately accepting Foreman's challenge.
However, the fight almost did not take place. Foreman, who had not fought in over a year when the challenge was issued, was not ranked in the WBA's pool of potential challengers. Although he was ranked by the IBF (who sanctioned the bout), the fight was cancelled on August 10, 1994 after the WBA threatened to strip Moorer of the title if he went through with it. Ten days later, Foreman won a lawsuit against the WBA to allow him to fight for the organization's championship and the fight was back on.
The fight was broadcast by HBO and aired as part of their long running series, HBO World Championship Boxing. Jim Lampley provided the blow-by-blow, with Larry Merchant as analyst and Harold Lederman as the unofficial ringside scorekeeper. At the time, Foreman was a second analyst alongside Merchant, but since he was participating in the fight Gil Clancy took his place.
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