Promoter Don King wants 55-year-old George Foreman to fight the John Ruiz-Fres Oquendo winner for the WBA heavyweight title, but admits he has no contract for such an epic bout.
King (72) made his pitch on Tuesday at a news conference to announce a heavyweight championship double-header in New York on April 17 that features Puerto Ricans Oquendo and Ruiz and Poland’s Andrew Golota facing American Chris Byrd.
”George Foreman gives guys like us who are 50 and over proof that life is not yet over,” King said. ”I’m so proud of George. He sets an example that you live until you die.”
King has offered Foreman $20-million to fight near the 30th anniversary of his famed Rumble in the Jungle loss to Muhammad Ali, who knocked out Foreman in the eighth round on October 30 1974 at Kinshasa, in the then Zaire.
”He could make as much as $30-million,” boasted King, whose promotion of the Ali-Foreman showdown in Africa launched his career as a wild-haired master hypemeister.
The fight, if it happens, would also take place near the 10th anniversary of Foreman’s 10th-round knockout of Michael Moorer, a victory that made Foreman the oldest champion in heavyweight history at the age of 45 on November 5 1994.
”If he happens to be ready to fight, remember this is the 30th anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle and he would be fighting for a world title,” King said.
King said Foreman must shed about 20kg and be approved as not being a health risk by whatever state boxing sanctioning commission is involved to make the title bout a reality.
”George Foreman is a remarkable story with what he has done and being able to do it as his age,” King said. ”He is not an Alice in Wonderland story.”
Ruiz (32) is 39-5 with one drawn and 27 knockouts. He owns the WBA title belt forfeited by Roy Jones, who elected to return to light-heavyweight after taking the crown from Ruiz in a historic triumph one year ago.
Oquendo (30) is 24-2 with 15 knockouts. He will be part of the first all-Hispanic heavyweight title showdown. — Sapa-AFP