By Phil D. Jay
Two-time world heavyweight champion “Big” George Foreman has revealed that he wishes he could have taken on Wladimir Klitschko at some point in his career on the eve of 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins’ challenge against WBC 175lb champion Jean Pascal. A win by Hopkins would snap Foreman's record of being the oldest boxer to ever win a championship.
The Texan shocked the boxing world in 1994 by knocking out WBA and IBF champion Michael Moorer to become the oldest champion of all time. Foreman, now 62, believes that age is just a number when you’re a fighter and if you feel fit and healthy, there is no reason for you to think about quitting.
"I never thought about the record,” Foreman told AFP.com.
“I thought about getting a knockout. When you attempt a feat of this sort, you can't look in the mirror and see a guy who has aged. You've got to feel like you are 25 or 30."
It seems that one of Foreman’s regrets is that he never carried on fighting long enough to have a crack at the Klitschko brothers, who have dominated the division for almost a decade. Foreman retired in 1997, but had always intended on fighting until he was 55 and now seems have rued his decision.
"I'd have loved to have had the chance to fight Klitschko, the young one," Foreman said. "I'd have liked that opportunity."
The entrepreneur has thrown his considerable weight behind Bernard Hopkins’ attempt to break his 17-year record by a wide margin on Saturday in Canada.
"Everyone I meet and chat with says he should, quit, he should stop. They don't think it can be done," Foreman said. "But Hopkins is a whole 'nother story. He's bringing forth class and endurance."
Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net