George Foreman: "After I lost to Ali in Zaire, I told everyone that l was robbed - the ropes were loose, the water was drugged, then, once l'd changed my nature, I realised what a blemish l'd put on this great man's career.. Why would I go out and spit on his victory to mess up this great man's name?
"It was the last of the 70's, I believe 1978, Ali, I do not know how he got my phone number because he avoided me, he didn't want to give me a title rematch. He called and complimented me for about 20 minutes then he said ‘George, would you do me a favor', he knew I liked him, I said, ‘certainly,’ he said, 'please come back and beat Ken Norton and fight him for me, they are going to strip me of my title and I can't beat him George, you can. He's afraid of you. I'll let you use my training camp and everything.’
"That day forward, we became the best of friends, and, we starting talking on the telephone, he’d call me, I would try to run him down wherever he’d be. We had these religious conversations. His children became good friends with my children. That is where the love affair began, right there at the end of the '70's."
What started as rivalry ended in respect. That loss in Zaire became the beginning of a deep friendship, built on faith, forgiveness, and mutual admiration. Ali and Foreman went from opponents to brothers.
George Foreman: "After I lost to Ali in Zaire, I told everyone that l was robbed - the ropes were loose, the water was drugged, then, once l'd changed my nature, I realised what a blemish l'd put on this great man's career.. Why would I go out and spit on his victory to mess up this great man's name?
"It was the last of the 70's, I believe 1978, Ali, I do not know how he got my phone number because he avoided me, he didn't want to give me a title rematch. He called and complimented me for about 20 minutes then he said ‘George, would you do me a favor', he knew I liked him, I said, ‘certainly,’ he said, 'please come back and beat Ken Norton and fight him for me, they are going to strip me of my title and I can't beat him George, you can. He's afraid of you. I'll let you use my training camp and everything.’
"That day forward, we became the best of friends, and, we starting talking on the telephone, he’d call me, I would try to run him down wherever he’d be. We had these religious conversations. His children became good friends with my children. That is where the love affair began, right there at the end of the '70's."
What started as rivalry ended in respect. That loss in Zaire became the beginning of a deep friendship, built on faith, forgiveness, and mutual admiration. Ali and Foreman went from opponents to brothers.
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