RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer FAREWELL TO FOUR LEGENDS
May 2025
Founder Nathaniel Fleischer (1888-1972) Owner His Excellency Turki Alalshikh
Editor-in-Chief Douglass Fischer Managing Editor Tom Gray Senior Editor Brian Harty Creative Director Lamar Clark Controller Deborah L. Harrison
T he third weekend of March was a hard one for longtime boxing fans. In the span of two days, we learned of the passings of George Foreman, Colin Hart and Livingstone Bramble. Just before this publication went to press, another legend of the sport, decorated amateur and pro trainer Kenny Adams, passed away. Foreman’s death caused the biggest waves, not just within boxing but throughout the world, which comes as no surprise. Big George, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003, was an Olympic gold medalist who twice won the heavyweight crown (20 years apart) and is considered one of the hardest punchers of all time. However, he transcended boxing. During his unlikely 10-year comeback – which spanned from 1987 to 1997 – Foreman evolved from a maligned curiosity to a legitimate contender to a popular HBO commentator to the oldest heavyweight champion ever to a celebrity pitchman
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Former heavyweight champion George Foreman was among the beloved boxing figures who recently passed away.
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and, finally, into a bona fide folk hero. There’s nothing I can say about Foreman that hasn’t already been said and written since he passed on March 21 at age 76. Thankfully, there was enough time to assign award-winning sportswriter Wallace Matthews to pen an essay on Foreman for this issue (see page 38). Matthews is joined by Ring columnists – and fellow Hall of Famers – Al Bernstein and Randy Gordon, who share their remembrances of the big- punching and big-hearted Texan. There’s more to come in the June issue, which will be dedicated to Big George’s extraordinary life and career. The other three legends who have recently left us are equally deserving of proper tributes. The Voice of Boxing Colin Hart was a prolific sportswriter who covered eight Olympic Games
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THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410) May 2025, is published 12 times per year by The Ring Magazine FZ, LLC P.O. Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209. Postmasters: Send change of address Notices to: The Ring Magazine Subscriber Service Dept., PO Box 16027, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6027, Phone: 818- 286-3101; rngcs@magserv.com. Single copy price $9.99 in U.S.A. ,10.99 Canada (£10.99 in the U.K.). Global Subscription price $60.00 for 12 issues plus S&H. Not responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited articles or photographs, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a self- addressed envelope bearing the proper amount of postage. The entire contents of this magazine are copyright ©2025 The Ring Magazine FZ-LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of advertisements appearing in this magazine, nor the delivery or quality of merchandise or services offered. No endorsement of any such advertisement is intended or implied. Advertisers and agencies assume liability for claims arising from the content of their advertisements. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES AND RATES: advertising@ringmagazine.com. U.S. / Canadian and International distribution by Comag Marketing Group LLC, 155 Village Blvd #200, Princeton, NJ 08540. UK distribution by Seymour Distribution Ltd., 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, England, EC1A 9PT. Printed In USA and the UK.
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