06-19-2003, 10:51 AM
Quote:Correction, Foreman wants to fight again and win the title. He won't fight Lewis or Tyson but would definitely fight Klitschko.
Quote:June 18, 2003 -- EXCLUSIVE
At age 54, George Foreman is strongly considering another comeback, he told The Post yesterday.
"I'm very serious," Foreman said.
In hopes of winning the heavyweight title for a third time, Foreman doesn't want to fight current champion Lennox Lewis or Mike Tyson.
However, if 6-foot-7 Vitali Klitschko upsets Lewis on Saturday, Foreman said, he'll become even more focused on his quest.
"I've been serious about this all along," said Foreman, who will call the Klitschko-Lewis fight for HBO.
"I've told people for the last five or six years, that at 55 I'm coming back.
"At my 55th birthday [in January], it's going to take a lot of persuasion and a lot of hard work for me not to come back."
Foreman last fought on Nov. 22, 1997, when he lost to Shannon Briggs.
Earlier this month, Foreman was inducted into Canastota, N.Y.'s International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was let in, even though he has never officially retired.
"I told them if they are putting me in the Hall of Fame with the hope that I'm never going to come back, don't do it," Foreman said.
Foreman said he works out all the time in Kingwood, Texas, a suburb of Houston.
"I've never given up my training," he said. "I don't spar. I figure no one should hit you for free."
Foreman said he must drop down to 225 pounds, which is a weight he probably hasn't seen for three decades. He said he is "a lot over that" weight right now.
"I want to be examined properly by my doctors," Foreman said. "I'm always given a clean bill of health."
Foreman, of course, has come back before. In 1987, after 10 years away from the ring, he returned as a sideshow.
Seven years later, and two decades after he lost his title in Zaire to Muhammad Ali, the 45-year-old Foreman was the main event, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion by knocking out Michael Moorer.
Foreman wants to take advantage of an inexperienced fighter to claim the title for the third time. He wouldn't fight Lewis.
"He's too big," Foreman said. "He's experienced and he has the reach . . . Get Lennox Lewis out of the business, I could come back tomorrow."
He doesn't want to fight Tyson for other reasons.
"I wouldn't even feel right fighting Mike Tyson," Foreman said. "Too many guys look like they decide if they want to get famous just go hurt Mike Tyson. For the first time, when Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson, I said, ‘Why is that big guy beating on Mike Tyson like that? Why doesn't he finish him off?' I felt sorry for Tyson."
Foreman the commentator gives Klitschko a chance against Lewis Saturday. If the upset happens, look for the conversation to turn to Foreman.
"If you see me in January, you watch my weight is [coming down,] you know there is danger George is coming back," Foreman said.
Edited By Teenweek on 1056019925