George Foreman. A miracle. A mystery to myself. Who am I? The mirror says back. The George you was always meant to be. Wasn't always like that. Used to look in the mirror and cried a river.
In 1973 I became heavyweight champion of the world with 38 victories, no defeats as a professional. You get to a point where you think you cannot lose. I felt like I had the greatest power with my fists, I was the strongest man in the world.
I dread handshakes. I've got some problems with my hands, and everywhere I go, people want to impress me with their grip. To make it worse, now women are coming up with that firm shake.
I dread handshakes. I've got some problems with my hands, and everywhere I go, people want to impress me with their grip. To make it worse, now women are coming up with that firm shake. So I'll say, 'Gimme five!' If a boy wants a handshake, I'll just give him a hug.
Every day, getting up early in the morning before much traffic, my wife takes me 10 miles from home, drops me off, and I have to get back.
That's my gift. I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck's back. If it's not positive, I didn't hear it. If you can overcome that, fights are easy.
It's great to reminisce about good memories of my past. It was enjoyable when it was today. So learning to enjoy today has two benefits: it gives me happiness right now, and it becomes a good memory later.
You may have even an ex-wife or an ex-husband, but you can never have ex-children.
Heroes have a rough time because they stand up when they ought not to, they speak when they ought not to; they always have to go that extra mile.
The referee is going to be the most important person in the ring tonight besides the fighters.
The fighters who give it all will be around for next year. Give it all you've got. Don't save anything.
I tell my sons all the time, 'The most important thing in your life is fitness,' but a lot of fighters go overboard.
I wanted to be the best street fighter in Houston, Texas. And I thought if I got a trophy or two, I'd go back home, and everyone would be afraid of me. I had one fight in '67, the first one. In '68 of October, I was an Olympic gold-medalist, a dream come true, with a total of 25 boxing matches.
When I left boxing in 1977 to be a preacher, I couldn't make a fist after I learned about Jesus Christ.
I teach kids that want to be tough that their fists are not the way.
I've seen George Foreman shadow boxing and the shadow won.
All my sons are named George Foreman. They all know where they came from.
You wouldn't meet a Joe Frazier down today and then up tomorrow, said hello to big shots then ignore someone on the lower level; he was the most consistent human being. What you see is what you get.
So many of us have loved ones and people we really care about, and the only time we show affection is when they are gone. I have preached at funerals, and you see loved ones who didn't even say hello to dear ones when they were alive. Give them hugs, kisses while they are alive and need it.
A Jack Russell terrier? My god. He'll burn you up. They never stop. A German shepherd, you can only go so many miles.