George Foreman was having an easy night's work. He had just dropped his opponent, Alex Stewart, for the second time in the second round; the last knockdown courtesy of a beautiful straight right hand that dumped Stewart onto the seat of his pants in his corner. Rising on unsteady legs, with blood gushing from a cut over his eye, and with his senses rattled by Foreman's clubbing blows, Alex Stewart appeared to be on his way out. As the three knockdown rule was in effect, all Foreman had to do was put Stewart down once more and the fight would automatically end via TKO for Big George.
And boy, did George Foreman try to accomplish that end. He pounced on Stewart and bulled him around the ring, all the while winging big, powerful punches at Stewart. But Alex Stewart came to fight that night, and he was not ready to lie down. He managed to evade Foreman for the rest of the round, and that's when the fight started!
Foreman's expectations of an easy payday - $5 million - and another spectacular win that would hopefully vault him back into title contention were dashed when Alex Stewart came to life and fought the fight of his life. After losing brutally in his last two fights prior to facing Foreman - getting stopped by Michael Moorer and then getting trounced by a comebacking Mike Tyson - Stewart was expected to continue in his role as designated hittee.
But Alex Stewart, probably realizing that this was his last big chance in the heavyweight division, started firing back at Big George and soon had his face lumpy and swollen. It started with a small abrasion under Foreman's left eye, and it eventually grew and then spread over his entire face!
Boy, what an entertaining brawl it was. With each passing round, the faces of both fighters grew more swollen and battered. Foreman's jab was closing Stewart's right eye and making his cut worse; Stewart's combination punching and quick counters were causing George's face to swell grotesquely and bleed.
It was a scary sight. Here was big, cuddly, fan-friendly George Foreman engaging in the kind of fight that you hate to see a folk hero who is loved and adored by millions engage in. Punches were flying, blood was flowing, and facial features were eroding before millions of viewers' eyes.
George Foreman, sensing the dire circumstances that his career - and his body - were in, found the energy to mount one last great offensive assault in the 8th round. Right crosses and mighty uppercuts found Stewart's chin, and Alex appeared to be a breath away from going down. But he held firm and rode out George's assault.
When the bell rang at the end of the 10th round - ending the fight - both fighters looked battered and beaten. Foreman looked grotesque; he looked as if a hand grenade had blown up in his face. And Stewart, with cuts over his eyes and with his face swollen, didn't look much better.
When the scores were read, the closeness of the fight was reaffirmed. Two judges had Foreman winning by one point each; the third judge had Stewart winning the fight by a point.
It was close - obscenely close - and most boxing experts felt that George Foreman should retire immediately! He had taken a severe beating, and although he won the fight - just barely - he'd gone life and death against an opponent who was easily knocked out in his last two fights. But George, proving that no obstacle is too great to overcome, would continue his career and, on a shocking night in November of 1994, he would regain the heavyweight championship of the world when he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history at age 45.
