Top 5 best moments in boxing history

1. George Foreman defeats Michael Moorer at 45 years old

If losing to Ali in The Rumble in the Jungle was one of the lowest points of his career, then knocking out Michael Moorer 20 years later to regain the heavyweight title was George Foreman’s high-water mark.

Foreman retired from boxing in 1977and returned to the sport 10 years later in 1987. He told anyone that would listen that he would regain the heavyweight title. No one believed him, but he had the last laugh.

In 1994, Foreman got a title shot against IBF and WBA champion Michael Moorer. Foreman lost his last bout to Tommy Morrison, so not many gave him a chance against Moorer.

People watched the fight because Foreman was likable and a bit of an oddity. He was a 45-year-old who thought that he could turn back the clock. On Nov. 5, 1994, he did just that.

Moorer was 26 years old, 19 years younger than Foreman. He had just defeated Evander Holyfield to win his titles. Nobody could foresee what would happen in his matchup with Foreman.

In round 10, Foreman was way down on every judge’s scorecard. He was tagging Moorer with occasional power punches, but they were few and far between. Moorer was piling up points and looked like he would cruise to victory, but Foreman kept punching.

Foreman connected to Moorer’s head with a left hook that hurt. Moorer didn’t show its impact, but it played a part in his loss. Foreman landed with a left-right combination, then he repeated it. The right hand connected squarely on Moorer’s jaw and sent him to the canvas where he was counted out.

Commentator Jim Lampley famously screamed, “It happened. It happened.”

Foreman became a champion at 45 for the second time of his career. On that night, he proved that heart and spirit could defeat time and completed one of the greatest comebacks in history.