Freeda Foreman Guest Spot on She Got Game – 2001

Written by Carol Ann Weber – January 1, 2001

Yes, the night of her fourth fight, Freeda appeared on my radio show. She talked a lot about working her butt off to get her into such great shape (she lost well over 40 pounds total), and that she had made a decision to devote herself 100% to her training and improving her fight game.

She weighed in at a very svelte 159 lbs, and came out ready for a fight, although she didn’t get it from her opponent Yolanda Blackmer, who appeared to decide to stay down after a straight right and left hook combination from Freeda sent her to the canvas in 1:03 in round one.

Also on the show was Freeda’s trainer, Larry Goosen, who had some interesting comments about Foreman’s improvement, and admitted that when he first started working with her, he was concerned that there wasn’t much to work with. He’s changed his tune now, especially since father George has entered the picture. After making an about face about her decision to enter the boxing ring, George welcomed his daughter with open arms when she recently flew to Houston to work with him. She spent almost two weeks in intense training, and says her dad has given her a whole new “bag of tricks” on which she continues to work on a daily basis.

I had several callers, one asking Freeda what it felt like to get knocked out, which of course, she couldn’t comment on because that hasn’t happened to her yet. But she’s says she’s not afraid to get hit and, like her father, can take a punch, although she believes a good fighter doesn’t get hit very often.

Then the fun really started after I asked Foreman if she was aware that J’Marie Moore had challenged her several times and would she accept the challenge. When she remarked the J’ had to come down to her weight class, the phone lines immediately lit up and there was J’Marie calling in, burning up the phone line. It was a friendly bantering back and forth, but on the air, Freeda accepted Moore’s challenge and said it is up to both parties to get the money deal together and the fight would be a go.

So, you heard it on SHE GOT GAME! Stay tuned for the exclusive details on events as they unfold.

Here’s some of Freeda’s comments I got in a post-fight interview:

CAW: How did you feel right before the fight today?

FF: It was a rough day today. My nerves were shot, just knowing what the energy was going to be like walking into the ring. I pumped myself up, shadow boxed, beat the mitts with Larry. Felt like Mike Tyson for ten seconds.

CAW: It was a pretty short fight, only 1 minute and 3 seconds. Tell me what happened when the bell rang?

FF: She was running around a lot. She kept her hands up in her face and left her body open. So I said, “I know what I’m going to do, I’m going to go to the body and eat her up.” I went to the body a couple of times and she shot across the ring and I had to look for her. As soon she had an opening I dropped and landed a straight right hand and a left hook, she went down and it was over.

CAW: Did you want more out of your opponent?

FF: In my heart, I felt like this girl should have gotten right back up. You know how they say, “take it like a man” C’mon, come fight. But I guess she was startled and just stayed on the floor. That was the fastest fight I’ve ever had. The first one went three rounds and the second one went the distance. But I was geared up today, I was so riled up I felt like I could have fought Lennox Lewis.

CAW: You are certainly in great shape since I saw you at your pro debut on June 18th. What have you done?

FF: Now, I train three times a day and run twice a day. And when I get to that point I feel I’m too tired, I go one more extra mile. I really push myself.

CAW: Do you feel your hard work has paid off?

FF: I notice that the lower in weight I am, the better and quicker I am. I was looking back at my first two fights, I didn’t do any foot movement. I could take a punch but I think a true fighter should never be hit. I have been practicing moving around.

CAW: So what is the big secret to your big weight loss [more than 20 pounds]

FF: You know what the big secret is? You have to come to terms with your own self and what you want in life. As soon as you find that – it may take two days, it may take ten years – you can do anything. You can become whatever it is you want, even beyond belief, you can do it. But you have to sit down, talk to yourself and love yourself.

CAW: And now your father has offered his support. When did he change his mind about your getting into the fight game?

FF: I think it was his interview on Rosie O’Donnell’s show. She asked him what he thought about his daughter fighting and about her skill level and dad said, “I’ll tell you one thing. I realized my daughter has passion. You don’t find many people having passion for anything in life whatever it is. She found it in boxing and I feel wonderful about that.” He has been on my side ever since.

CAW: So when did you get together with him?

FF: Since the Audrey Bell fight I made a 180 degree turn-around. I realized that I do love boxing, and I’m going to be around it my whole life, whether it’s as a boxer or something else with it. I told myself that when you are representing yourself you want to make sure you look good and make sure you perform well. So right then I got up running, and I ran and ran and ran. Then I called my father and said, “Daddy, I need your help. Can I come down?” And he said, “Sure.” I was on the plane to Houston the next day.

CAW: How did he deal with you?

FF: First thing he told me was, “I’m not going to treat you like a girl, you’re a fighter now. If you’re going to do boxing, let’s do it right.” He gave me a whole bag of goodies to work on. But most of all, he had me working on power, power, power. Everything is power, you don’t have to be extremely quick if you’ve got power. So I’ve taken every one of these things he showed me and I’ve stayed on them every day, all day. Even if I go home and I’m half asleep, I’ll get back up and go back to the gym and work out.

CAW: That had to be the thrill of your life getting your dad back on your side.

FF: It gave me a second wind. Before, I cried almost every day. Even in the middle of interviews, if they would ask me about dad, I would start to cry. Now, it’s so good.

CAW: Where are you training now?

FF: Denver is my home base.

CAW: Is it harder training without your dad?

FF: Once somebody gives you the direction, you have everything you need to get the job done. You know you are supposed to be on the clock and punch this bag, you know you need your foot movement, you know you need to run. As long as you have that in your mind, you have everything. I can’t blame anyone if I screw up, it’s up to me to put it all together and work hard.

CAW: Were you in the best shape so far in your career in this fight?

FF: Yes. But there is one thing missing and I don’t know if I will ever get over it. It’s the way I feel before I enter the ring. My blood pressure drops and every bit of energy feels like it’s drained out of my body. That is the hardest thing. It’s easier being in the gym sparring and taking a big lick than having to deal with those emotions right before a fight.