My father was a fan of football, while my mother preferred boxing. I wasn’t particularly interested in either sport; instead, I found joy in X-Men comics and Little Debbie snacks. However, she persuaded me to watch a match that changed my perspective: Buster Douglas’ unexpected knockout of the unbeaten heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in 1990 left me entranced.
My mom was an avid supporter of Muhammad Ali, the charismatic boxer who staged a memorable comeback against George Foreman in 1974 in Zaire, a tale she recounted frequently — Ali, the agile tactician, contrasted with Foreman, the brash powerhouse.
So in 1994, when Foreman returned to boxing, we paid for the Pay-Per-View event to watch the now 45-year-old Foreman defeat 27-year-old Michael Moorer in the eighth round. At that time, my mother was slightly older than Foreman, and she took great delight in his victory.
By this time, my view of boxing was evolving; I began to recognize its brutal reality, including the risks of severe brain injuries. Yet, I couldn’t help but be charmed by Foreman’s likable demeanor. A few years later, as he started his second career in advertising, I found myself purchasing a George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, even if I didn’t clearly remember the decision.
One day, my cramped kitchen in a small Queens apartment in the late 1990s went from being bare except for a broken toaster to hosting a shiny, futuristic looking George Foreman grill, which took up space beside it. It’s likely that after watching Foreman promote the grill on TV, I succumbed to the allure of cooking healthy, juicy chicken breasts without any added fat, all for three easy payments of $19.95.
Foreman’s infomercials had a captivating quality, filled with cheerful presenters showcasing kitchen gadgets aimed at making life easier or food healthier. The American dream seemed to be purchasing items like a set of steak knives on easy payments in the wee hours. Foreman excelled in this role; he was the only spokesperson I felt glad to contribute to, simply because he was so charming and inviting.
George Foreman, known as “Big George” during his early boxing career, stood at 6’3″ and weighed around 220 to 230 pounds, later weighing in at 250 during his comeback. However, he had transformed over time, evolving into a more humble figure with a gentle and witty personality outside the ring. He became the ideal ambassador for the Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, as if fate had sent him to promote a grill that could produce beautifully cooked chicken with appealing grill marks.
