George Foreman Explains Why His Sons Were All Named George
‘Big George Foreman’ Exclusive: George Foreman Talks About Bringing His Life Story To The Big Screen
Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World premiered in theaters this past weekend, but we had the opportunity to view the film early and speak to its subject — the champ himself – George Foreman, prior to the project’s release.
Source: MICHAEL TRAN / Getty
Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World is based on the remarkable true story of one of the greatest comebacks of all time and the transformational power of second chances. Fueled by an impoverished childhood, Foreman channeled his anger into becoming an Olympic Gold medalist and World Heavyweight Champion, followed by a near-death experience that took him from the boxing ring to the pulpit. But when he sees his community struggling spiritually and financially, Foreman returns to the ring and makes history by reclaiming his title, becoming the oldest and most improbable World Heavyweight Boxing Champion ever. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker George Tillman Jr. from a story by Dan Gordon and Frank Baldwin & George Tillman Jr, and a screenplay by Baldwin & Tillman, the film stars Khris Davis (Judas and the Black Messiah) as Foreman and also stars Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker as Foreman’s trainer and mentor Doc Broadus.
We spoke with Foreman about the challenges of telling his story for the whole world to see and he admitted he had some reservations at first.
“It’s not easy to go out and do a story about your life,” Foreman told BOSSIP. “I can tell you that. You gotta argue and watch script writers and they’ve got to get your confidence and a lot of times you’re telling them parts, but when the movie comes out, you see in picture what you wanted to say with words, and the pictures, that art is something!”
Foreman told us he was particularly moved by watching his humble beginnings onscreen.
“I opened up to the writers and they told stories with pictures,” Foreman said. “Especially the young George Foreman, where I walk into one of those houses my mom would move in — rusty old refrigerator, rusty old stove and I had forgotten about how far I had come. It was a good reminder and gave me a lot of contentment to see what had happened to my life. I’d come a long ways!”
“I remember being the champion of the world. I remember how happy I was, and then how dejected I was when I lost the title the first time, but you think about as a kid, what I had come from where I had come from. It was a triumph, the whole life talk about miraculous, it was a miracle.”
We asked the former heavyweight champion if there was anything in the movie that he was sharing for the first time and he spoke about his experience rallying back in his forties for his second world championship belt.
“For 10 years I was out of boxing,” Foreman recalled. “I didn’t even make a fist. I thought that was it for me. Then to see everything disappear, all that work, for having to come back. I was scared to come back to boxing, really scared. I didn’t want to be a boxer again, but for 10 years I was able to survive and keep my punch, if you know what I mean and I had to open up about that, the challenge of being just a guy to try to try and make myself believe I could be champion of the world again.”
“So many people were telling me, ‘George you’re too old, you should stop,’ and I would look in the mirror every day and say ‘Hey I just got started.’ Then I worked out, trained, and at 45 I was the most strong I’ve ever been in my life. If you’d asked me for the happiest hour in my life, the happiest years in my life would be 45 through 49. I was strong. I could run further, I could punch harder and I could think along with it. The best time of my life.”
Source: Sony Pictures / Sony Pictures
The film also features Forest Whitaker as Doc Broadus, Foreman’s longtime coach.
“Doc Broadus was the first person I met in my life that never gave up on me,” Foreman told BOSSIP. “He always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t want to become a boxer in the first place yeah but he kept telling me, ‘Stop fighting in the street George. You could make something of your life.’ Then I did and I became an Olympic gold medalist, and then coming back at the age of forty-five to fight for the title he looked at me in the same way, ‘You could beat this guy!’ Doc Broadus never gave up on me and Forest Whitaker did a great job in portraying Doc Broadus.’
Hit the flip for more from our incredible interview.
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Source: Sony Pictures / Sony Pictures
The film also tells the story of how Foreman was betrayed by those closest to him, costing him his entire boxing fortune at one point. He spoke about overcoming that betrayal and how he learned to forgive.
“The first time around I just trusted everybody,” Foreman told BOSSIP. “I didn’t think I deserved money. I didn’t know how to take care of it. I trusted people and I looked up, and I was broke because of distrust. People mishandled my money, but I found out forgiveness, the subtle thread that binds both love and friendship. Without forgiveness you have nothing. You don’t even have a family if you you’re not able to forgive.”
The film also explores Foreman’s spiritual awakening and how he went on to become a pastor of his own church. He spoke about how that journey has been his most fulfilling experience of all.
“The most important thing I talk about is forgiveness,” Foreman told BOSSIP. “Without God and finding Jesus Christ I never would have found forgiveness. I was able. Once a year we all talk about, ‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ I had to eat that product and I sold it and then I learned to eat it and that’s the best thing that happened to me was finding God finding Jesus.”
We also spoke with Foreman about his legacy, naming his sons George and how some of his grandchildren have the name as well.
“My mother, when I was a doing bad, my mom would get upset, and she said, ‘Come here!'” Foreman remembered. “She called me all the children’s names, and by the time she called my name, I was out the door. I said this will never happen to me. I call George and they all come.”
Foreman added that he now has 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, some who also share his name.
“People don’t know but I have more fun imitating characters and making my grandkids and children laugh, that’s what makes me most happy, enjoying my grandkids,” Foreman told BOSSIP. “We even named a couple of them George. They’re all named George, everyone. All the boys are named George because I want to make certain I don’t forget a name.”
Pure comedy, right?
Before ending our interview, Foreman told us he believes it was a real blessing that he’s been able to see his story brought to screen while he’s still living.
“I love the idea of talking about the George Foreman story, because each day it becomes apparent to me that it was a miracle. My life was a miracle and to tell that story before I pass away it’s wonderful.”
Incredible story.
Make sure to check out Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World in theaters now.
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