George Foreman agreed to a tentative US$20 million deal to return for a fight celebrating the 30th anniversary of his epic bout with Muhammad Ali, promoter Don King said Tuesday.
King said he talked with the 55-year-old Foreman last week about the prospects of a fight.
"We've got a verbal deal," King said. "He said, 'I'm willing to fight one more time.'"
Foreman has said he's interested in fighting again to show young people that there's no reason to fear getting older.
He hasn't fought since 1997, when he lost his heavyweight title to Shannon Briggs. He has spent his time since as a TV pitchman and boxing commentator.
"George said he wants to come back to fight again, so what I'm doing is calling him out," King said. "He has the power, boy, he's rewriting history books."
Foreman did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Tuesday.
Foreman would have to get himself into shape, King said, but he didn't expect the former heavyweight champion to have a problem finding a state that would license him to fight.
King said no opponent, date or location have been set, although Foreman said last week he'd like any fight to be in his hometown of Houston. Foreman first won the heavyweight title in 1973 by knocking out Joe Frazier. He lost the title the next year to Ali in a bout fought in Zaire known as the ``Rumble in Jungle.'' That fight was the first professional championship bout King promoted.
In 1987, after a 10-year retirement, Foreman made his first comeback. Seven years later, at 45, Foreman marked the 20th anniversary of the Ali fight by knocking out Michael Moorer to become the oldest person to win the heavyweight title. He lost the title in the 1997 match against Briggs, leaving the ring with a 76-5 record with 68 knockouts.
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