George Foreman
1968 Olympic Gold Medal Hits Public sale
Revealed
Earlier than George Foreman knocked out Joe Frazier to turn out to be the heavyweight champion or fought Muhammad Ali in probably the most memorable fights ever … Large George gained Olympic gold in 1968 — and now the medal’s on the block!!
Foreman, who was simply 19, was dominant in Mexico Metropolis, steamrolling his opps on the way in which to profitable the ’68 Summer season Video games.
George’s hardest problem got here in his first combat towards Poland’s Lucjan Trela — within the spherical of 16 — a bout he gained 4-1.
From there, it was straightforward work for Foreman. He badly damage Ion Alexe from Romania within the quarterfinals, forcing the referee to cease the competition within the third.
Within the semifinals, Large George put Italy’s Giorgio Bambini on his ass 3 times, profitable by second-round knockout.
It was a lot of the identical within the finals … Foreman completely destroyed Jonas Cepulis of the Soviet Union, profitable by referee stoppage within the second spherical, securing the gold!
The medal from the October 26, 1968, bout is on the block at Lelands Public sale, the place it has already been bid on a number of instances, regardless of not closing till subsequent Saturday.
As for the way Lelands acquired the historic piece, it is an fascinating story.
Foreman was apparently neighbors with the consignor’s mom again in Houston within the Seventies, when George requested if he might retailer bins in her storage, in accordance with Lelands. She obliged.
Years later, when the neighbor’s daughter went by means of a few of her mother’s issues, she got here throughout a bunch of G.F.’s stuff, together with trophies, a driver’s license, and the gold medal!
Now the late-great Foreman’s medal could be yours.
Glad bidding!
