Curt Flewelling, FISM News
A movie on the life and times of former heavyweight champion of the world George Foreman is coming to theaters this week. The film entitled “Big George Foreman” chronicles the amazing journey of one of the greatest boxers of all time.
The movie depicts the numerous peaks and valleys of Foreman’s life with the overarching theme being, “Have faith in an ever-present God.” The motion picture could well be described as a “rags to riches to rags to riches” story, with God ultimately delivering George Foreman to a better place.
The boxing great grew up in Marshall, TX, where his teen years were marked by poverty, substance abuse, and crime. He fled the chaos of his childhood to start anew in California, enrolling in a program that was designed to help disadvantaged youth.
It was at the Job Corps program that his life changed forever. A counselor, Doc Broadus, urged young George to take up boxing in order to channel his anger appropriately. The rest, as they say, is history.
Foreman’s ascent to greatness was quick. At the tender age of 24, he became the heavyweight champion of the world. However, the brash young boxer was humbled by the great Muhammad Ali just one year later in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Foreman attempted to get back on top for the next three years. At the height of his comeback, George Foreman experienced the most pivotal point in his life. After losing to Jimmy Young, Foreman retreated to his dressing room, wallowing in despair. The bloodied and beaten fighter describes being empty and in a dark place.
It was at that low point that Foreman was led to ponder something bigger than fame and fortune. He soon gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. He became on fire for God and a few years later became an ordained minister and founded The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. He soon became affectionately known as the “Punchin Preacher.”
Despite this amazing turnaround, Foreman struggled financially and had to step back into the ring as a middle-aged man, badly out of shape. However, in true George Foreman style, he rose to the challenge and in 1994, vanquished 26-year-old Michael Moore to recapture the heavyweight championship.
Foreman is an accomplished athlete, evangelist, author, and entrepreneur, but according to him, it all pales in comparison to what’s really important – God. Foreman told the Christian Post, “It doesn’t matter what you achieve, what you accomplish in this life. The most important thing is to keep your eye on the true prize, and that’s serving God.”
The former champ hopes that the movie motivates people to never give up. Reflecting on the movie he said, “It tells the story of someone coming from nowhere and receiving everything possible in his life. And the greatest thing that this life can offer is the chance for everlasting life, finding God, and that’s what I’ve found.”
The movie Big George Foreman will be in movie theaters across the country on April 28.