Daughters of Boxing Legends: Freeda George Foreman

Middleweight Freeda George Foreman, born on October 16, 1976, in Houston, Texas, boxed in the years 2001 and 2002.  She joined forces shortly after other Daughters of Boxing Legends were joining the sport.  She is known best as the daughter of the former World Heavyweight champion, George Foreman.

Shortly after Roberto Duran’s daughter joined into the sport, shortly thereafter, Foreman decided to enter the ring. Freeda was scheduled to have her pro debut on April 1st, but on  March 30, she canceled out on her pro debut, due to illness.

Foreman took the  same path as Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier, by skipping the amateurs and jumping head first into becoming a pro.  Freeda said in one interview, “My goal is to change history and knock Laila out,” Freeda said recently. “It’s not revenge, but the opportunity is there for me.”  Freeda’s father, George Foreman is not real happy about her deciding on boxing.    Freeda is a  single mom with a 4-year-old child.  She is signed with promoter Dan Goossen of America Presents.  Foreman has not been training very long, and her father said something to the affect that his other four daughters could outbox her.

On June 18, 2000, at the Regent Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, Freeda Foreman (180)  took on Laquanda Landers (168).   Foreman TKO’d Landers 1:44 in second Round.   Review from the Las Vegas Sun: “The best that can be said for Freeda (George) Foreman is that she won, as her “fight” with fellow novice LaQuanda Landers may have been the worst in recorded history. It mercifully ended at 1:44 of the second round when Foreman dispatched her opponent with a willowy punch that personified the slow-motion bout.” Maria Johansson vs. Karrie Frye (Super-Middleweight) Four-round split decision going to Frye, bringing her record to 5-1 (4KO).  Maria is now 0-1.  Review from the Las Vegas Sun:  “The other women’s feature was just the opposite, as Maria (Ingemar) Johansson and Karrie Frye had a competitive battle that went Frye’s way by split decision. She had Johansson down and bleeding, and raised her record to 5-1 at the would-be protege’s expense. For what it’s worth, both Frye and Johansson would defeat Foreman with ease.” By Dean Juipe  LAS VEGAS SUN.

 On December 10, 2000 Elgin, Illinois, Freeda Foreman (160) TKO’d Rachel Pembleton in the second round. Pembleton basically quit in the 2nd round.  Foreman was 20 lbs., less than in her pro debut which she weighed in at 180 lbs. Foreman had more skill level and was faster with her punching power. Pembleton was “clueless” as to how to box. Pembleton turned her back on Foreman.

On January 7, 2001 -Texas Station, Las Vegas, Nevada, Foreman fought  Yolanda Blackmer winning by a TKO in the first round.  Blackmer is also a “Federal ID’d Wisconsin” boxer.  According to boxing fans who were present at this fight they said that it was basically a garbage match.  Foreman’s boxing record moved to 4-0 with fighting some inferior opponents as of this date.

On November 20, 2001, in  Humble, Texas,  Foreman, 160, (5-0-0 4KO), lost a four-round split decision against Evelyn Rodriguez, 160, (0-3). Rodriguez did not have a win on her professional record, but the boxers she did stepped into the ring with were some of the best in the world.  Harry Murdock, Mahfood’s trainer/manager, was there at the fight, and reported the fight to WBAN between Foreman and Rodriguez as it was happening.

Murdock said that boxing legend George Foreman was working Freeda’s corner this night. Murdock reported the following: In the first round, Murdock said that Freeda appeared to be in very good shape, and went toe-to-toe with Rodriguez. Rodriguez was throwing some good straight punches and looked like she had some ring experience. He gave the round to Rodriguez.  Murdock said that  Freeda did not throw wild punches but was shortening her punches and using more technique. In round two, the scoring could have gone either way. The action continued and the boxing fans loved it. Freeda was definitely a draw and favorite tonight as the crowd called out her name during the fight. In round three, Freeda threw some nice combinations, but did not seem to faze Rodriguez. Freeda landed two big rights, and Murdock had her winning this round. In the fourth and final round, both fighters touched gloves, and then the fight was on…Rodriguez landed 4-5 good punches at the beginning of the round. Rodriguez then switched to a southpaw stance. Freeda was also delivering an arsenal of her own with Rodriguez. Rodriguez had Freeda on the ropes at one point during the round. Final scoring, 39-37 Rodriguez, 39-37 Foreman, 39-37 Rodriguez.

Foreman retired from boxing and began doing different things outside the ring, leaving the sport as a pro at 5-1-0 (3KO).

On March 18, 2005, Freeda George Foreman (daughter of two-time World Heavyweight Champion, George Foreman) added“boxing promoter” to her already resume. To mark this historical event, Freeda Foreman made her professional debut with a premiere boxing showcase promoted by her company, Boxing Classics of America, Ltd. The event, “Houston’s Night of Stars: Texas vs. Arkansas,”  that took place at the Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel in Houston. “Houston’s Night of Stars”. As a native Houstonian and former professional fighter, Freeda George Foremanwas looking to establish her own legacy by bringing boxing to the forefront of the Houston scene, and in time, the rest of Texas. After two years as Executive Director at her father’s gym, “The George Foreman Youth & Community Center,” and after hosting countless, successful amateur boxing events there, Freeda felt that she had finally found her calling. Outside of the ring, Freeda was also looking to give back to the boxing community with plans to fund an endowment that will provide scholarships to give amateur fighters their chance at a college education. She believes that the pursuit of higher education is vital to young fighters and she wants to be able to provide them with that opportunity.