17401 Hon. Ted
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July 30, 2008 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 154, Pt. 12 17401 later, he was appointed to the Lucas County final title bout against the favored Soviet fight- floored twice by Foreman in the fifth round Sheriff Office as a road deputy. In 1971, Ser- er. After winning the gold, Forman walked and the fight was stopped. Next, Foreman geant Murphy traversed to Ft. Lauderdale, around the ring, holding high a small American knocked out Scott Ledoux in three and Dino Florida to obtain a new position; however, he flag following his victory. Some people chas- Dennis in four to finish the year. returned to Toledo, Ohio in 1973. In March of tised him for his display; others, however, Foreman fought five men in one night in a that year, he was appointed to the Toledo Po- lauded him for being a patriotic American dur- 1975 exhibition. He won five straight knock- lice Department where he served for 35 years. ing a time of political upheaval and strife. outs on the comeback trail before being After hard work and dedication to the Toledo Madam Speaker, this was the most patriotic decked and decision-ed by Jimmy Young in Police Department, he was promoted to Ser- moment I had ever seen. Puerto Rico in 1977. Foreman stated that he geant in 1979. Among other achievements, Foreman, after an amazing amateur record saw God in his dressing room following the Sergeant Murphy served as the official and of 27–0, turned professional in 1969 with a defeat and announced he was going to be- unofficial public information officers for 12 three-round knockout of Donald Walheim in come a preacher and retire from boxing. He years. Additionally he performed duties in pa- New York. He had 12 fights that year, winning became a born-again Christian, dedicating his trol, communication, and in the chief of po- all of them, 11 by knockout. Among the fight- life for the next decade to Christianity. Al- lice’s office during these years. While I have ers he defeated was Cookie Wallace, who though he did not formally retire from boxing, the honor to acknowledge his years of public lasted only 23 seconds. he did stop fighting, became an ordained min- service, the citizens of Toledo, OH have given In 1970, Foreman continued his journey to- ister of a church in Houston, Texas, and de- Sergeant Murphy many exceptional reports. ward the undisputed heavyweight title. In voted himself to his family and his parish- From the Toledo/Lucas County Safety Council, 1971, he won seven more fights. After amass- ioners. He also opened a youth center that he obtained the Citizen Policeman Award in ing a record of 32–0, Foreman ranked as the bears his name. Foreman continues to share 1975, Certificate of Appreciation in 1976, number one challenger by the World Boxing his conversion experience on Christian tele- Good Samaritan Award in 1992, and Heroism Association and Council. In 1972, his string of vision broadcasts such as The 700 Club and Reward in 1996. He was presented a procla- wins continued with a series of five consecu- the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and has mation from the Mayor’s office of the City of tive bouts in which he defeated each opponent joked that Young ‘‘knocked the devil out of Toledo in 1998 and 1999. Sergeant Murphy is within three rounds. him’’. a U. S. Navy Veteran who fulfilled active duty Still undefeated, and with an impressive When Foreman decided to return to the ring to raise money for his church; experts from 1962 to 1964, completing four years of knockout record, Foreman was set to chal- laughed, but he racked up 18 straight knock- reserve duty to follow. He is married to Patri- lenge undefeated and undisputed world out victories. He was defeated in a title bid by cia Ann Murphy, has two daughters Robin and heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Foreman Evander Holyfield. In 1994, Foreman again Jill and 6 grandchildren. He is a member of knocked down Frazier six times in two rounds shocked the world by knocking out undefeated Ottawa River Yacht Club, and plays in 3 golf to win the championship by knockout in one of World Heavyweight Champion Michael leagues. boxing’s biggest upsets. In what was HBO Moorer, 39–0, to become champion again at All of Toledo thanks Sergeant Murphy for Boxing’s first broadcast, the call made by age 45. his commitment to public service and helping Howard Cosell became one of the most mem- orable in all of sports: ‘‘Down goes Frazier! Shortly after the Moorer fight, Foreman keep safe the community of Toledo. When an faced mid-level prospect Axel Schulz of Ger- officer in blue goes to work in the morning, Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!’’ Be- fore the fight, Frazier was 29–0, with 25 many in defense of his remaining International that officer never knows if they will return Boxing Federation title. Foreman finished the knockouts, and Foreman was 37–0, with 34 home at night. Our community values and rec- fight with an unsightly swelling over one eye, knockouts. Equally memorable was Foreman’s ognizes the valor, patriotism, and community- but was awarded a highly controversial major- final punch, an uppercut, landed with such mindedness of Sergeant Murphy and his col- ity decision. The IBF ordered an immediate re- force that it lifted Frazier off his feet before leagues, who protect and serve a broader match to be held in Germany, but Foreman re- sending him to the canvas for the sixth and community beyond their family. May he find fused the terms and found himself stripped of final time. As he had done following the pre- happiness and satisfaction as he enters into a his remaining title. new milestone of his life. vious knockdowns, Frazier managed to get to In 1996, Foreman returned to Tokyo, scor- f his feet, but the referee called an end to the ing an easy win over the unrated Crawford bout. BOXING GREAT AND HEAVY- Grimsley by a 12-round decision. In 1997, he Nevertheless, Foreman went on to defend faced fringe contender Lou Savarese, winning WEIGHT CHAMPION GEORGE his title successfully twice during his initial a close decision in a grueling, competitive en- FOREMAN reign as champion. His first defense, in Tokyo, counter. Yet another opportunity came Fore- pitted him against Puerto Rican heavyweight man’s way as the World Boxing Council de- HON. TED POE champion Jose Roman. Roman was not re- cided to match him against Shannon Briggs in OF TEXAS garded as a top contender, and it took Fore- a 1998 ‘‘eliminator bout’’ for the right to face IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES man only 55 seconds to end the fight, the fast- World Boxing Council champion Lennox est-ever knockout for a heavyweight cham- Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Lewis. After 12 rounds, there was once again pionship bout. Foreman’s next defense was a controversial majority decision, but this time Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am against a much tougher opponent. In 1974, he the victory went to Briggs. Foreman had proud to recognize one of boxing’s most faced the highly regarded Ken Norton who fought for the last time, at the age of 48. feared fighters, Mr. George Foreman. We are was 30–2, a boxer notorious for his awkward In January 2003, Foreman was elected to near the same age, and I have been a fan boxing style. Norton’s ability to ‘‘take a punch’’ the International Boxing Hall of Fame, where since I was a kid. was suspect, and Foreman put him to the test. he was inducted in June. That same year, he A product of a less fortunate family, In an astonishing display of aggression and was named boxing’s ninth greatest puncher of Houstonian George Foreman was in constant punching power, Foreman knocked out Norton all time by Ring Magazine. trouble with the law. He vowed to make a bet- in just two rounds. The win made Foreman Foreman said he had no plans to resume ter life for himself and later joined the Job 40–0 with 37 knockouts. his career as a boxer, but then announced in Corp. While stationed in Oregon, Foreman be- After losing his title to Muhammad Ali in February 2004 that he was training for one came infamous for picking fights with fellow 1974, Foreman remained inactive during 1975. more comeback fight to demonstrate that the trainees. It was then that his fighting skills In 1976, he returned to boxing in Las Vegas age of 60, like 40, is not a ‘‘death sentence.’’ were noticed and he was introduced to the against Ron Lyle. After a very intense and ex- The bout, against an unspecified opponent, sport of boxing, which he grew to love. Fore- tensive struggle by both fighters, the fight was never materialized. Having severed his rela- man got his start as an amateur from the AAU stopped and Foreman was declared the win- tionship with HBO to pursue other opportuni- in San Francisco. ner. For his next bout, Foreman chose to face ties, George Foreman and the sport of boxing At the age of 19, Foreman won a gold Joe Frazier in a rematch. Frazier at this point finally went their separate ways. medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic was 32–3 and Foreman was 41–1, but people Life has definitely gone on after boxing for Games. He won his first fight on points and doubted Foreman’s ability. Unable to mount a ‘‘Big George Foreman.’’ In addition to becom- then three fights by stoppage—including the significant offense, Frazier was eventually ing the Heavyweight Champion of the World VerDate Mar 15 2010 12:00 Mar 08, 2011 Jkt 069102 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR08\E30JY8.000 E30JY8 jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with BOUND RECORD 17402 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol.