Boxing legend to receive award in Boise
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BOISE — Two-time former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman will appear in Boise on Friday to receive the Idaho World Sports/Entertainment Humanitarian Award.
Foreman will be honored for his philanthropic efforts at the red carpet event. “For 35 years, George Foreman has given troubled youth a sense of purpose with his Youth & Community Center in Houston, Texas,” according to a press release.
Other guests include Jim Lampley from HBO Sports and Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the Boise Centre. Buy tickets for the event here. Ticket prices range from $45 to $105.
Friday will be the 50th anniversary of Foreman winning the gold medal in the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics.
After winning in the Olympics, Foreman turned to professional boxing. He became heavyweight champion in 1973, then lost the title to Muhammed Ali in 1974. In 1977, Foreman had a religious experience after losing a fight and left boxing to become a born-again Christian. He started his own church in 1980, The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which still runs to this day.
Foreman started the Youth Center in 1983, charging only $1 a year as dues. When his church and the Youth Center started to run out of money, Foreman decided to go back into boxing to earn money. He was unexpectedly successful and regained the heavyweight champion title in 1994. At 45, he was the oldest heavyweight champion.
He only held the title for less than a year and retired again in 1997, but Foreman continues to preach at The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has also sponsored several products, including the popular George Foreman grills.
In his boxing career, Foreman won 76 matches and lost only five.