Three former world champions became preachers after retirement. Let’s look at the most recent, former Olympic Gold Medalist and heavyweight champion ‘Big’ George Foreman, who just passed away.
In January 1973, Foreman stopped champion Smokin’ Joe Frazier, 29-0, in two rounds in Kingston, Jamaica.
On March 17, 1977, he lost to Jimmy Young, being floored in the twelfth and final round in Puerto Rico.
As Foreman lay in his dressing room after losing, he had a spiritual awakening and began to yell, “Jesus Christ is coming alive in me.” Then, after his shower, he began to shout, “Hallelujah, I’m clean! Hallelujah, I’ve been born again!” He would retire from boxing with a record of 45-2 (42 KOs) and become an ordained minister.
He would come back and win the heavyweight title a second time at age 45 knocking out champion Michael Moorer, 35-0, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. In November of 1997 he retired with a 76-5 (68 Kos) record fighting out of Houston, Texas.
Former WBA & IBF World Super Lightweight champion Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor won his WBA title in August of 1980, coming off the canvas in the first round to go on to stop champion Antonio ‘Kid Pambele’ Cervantes, 63-10-1, in the fourth round, in Pryor’s home city of Cincinnati. In June of 1984, he won the IBF title, defeating Canada’s Nick Furlano, 28-7-1, by decision in Toronto, Canada.
After retiring in 1990 with a record of 39-1 (35 Kos), Pryor went through some hard times due to drug addiction, but with determination that made he a great fighter, he kicked the habit. He became a deacon at New Friendship Baptist Church. Witnessing Pryor was like seeing Henry “Homicide Hawk” Armstrong and even took the nickname “Hawk!”
In October of 1937 Armstrong won his first title the World Featherweight title knocking out Petey Sarron, 107-21-13, in six rounds at Madison Square Garden.
In May 1938, he jumped divisions to win the World Welterweight title, defeating Barney Ross, 74-3-3, at the Madison Square Garden Bowl while retaining the Featherweight title.
In August 1938, he won the World Lightweight title, defeating Lou Ambers 75-5-7, holding all three titles at the same time. In February 1945, he retired with a 149-21-10 record (99 Kos). He later became an ordained minister in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Last Updated on 03/31/2025
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