Big George still sizzles

By Ben Dirs

I'm done with boxing. As for Larry Holmes, maybe his wife has a nice insurance policy George Foreman

The woman next to me wants to know why George is using so much oil on his mushrooms.

For a second, George looks hurt. Not in a 'Jeez, I've just been clocked by a Joe Frazier left hook' kind of way - but hurt nonetheless.

George recovers well, fixes the aggressive foodie with a broad smile and says: "You don't have to use oil at all - this is a non-stick pan."

Big George Foreman: the preacher back in his pulpit, spreading the word of healthy grilling.

There is something faintly ridiculous in the former baddest man on the planet pinnied-up, grilling peppers for a captivated audience.

"But this grill is my best friend," says George, who has sold 70 million of them. I've had worse friends.

"I wake up all the time in shock and amazement - but most of all I'm happy. I thought my life was over when I lost to Muhammad Ali [in Zaire in 1974]."

Off stage, George drops the shtick and falls into humble demeanour.

He has a boxer's gentle handshake (they know they're tough, they don't have to prove it) and mellifluous voice.

If I hadn't had boxing, I probably would have spent my life in prison George Foreman

This is the man who knocked Frazier bandy - twice - and, aged 41, went 12 rounds with a prime Evander Holyfield.

But he is, of course, also a man of God, ever since he had a spiritual awakening following a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977.

"My religious walk has prepared me for everything else in life," says George.

"I'm a preacher first - that's where I get my satisfaction and motivation. My greatest thrill is that of a preacher."

But he still gets animated when the talk turns to boxing, from which, he assures us, he is permanently retired.

"I'm done with boxing. When Larry Holmes asked me to fight him recently, my wife told me 'no'. It was the first time she had put a demand on me in over 20 years of marriage.

"I cherish my marriage more than any championship belt. As for Larry, maybe his wife has a nice insurance policy.

"But God Almighty is the greatest sports fan in the world and boxing is as natural as a hurricane or an earthquake.

Audley will be champ -Foreman

"I'm not an evangelist for boxing by any means, but I do realise that if I hadn't had boxing, I probably would have spent my life in prison."

George is also upbeat about the state of the modern game. Ask some old-timers what they think of boxing today, and they'll shake their heads and tut.

"The division still has quality - there are a lot of great heavyweights out there but the writers don't talk about them.

"The promoters sign these big deals with television networks and they think, 'we don't need writers any more, we've got television'.

"And they didn't know that writers had always kept boxing alive - without the writers we die. Now, no-one knows us.

"Vitali Klitschko is a good fighter - he's not the greatest, but he's good. Hasim Rahman is not bad at all, he's got the seasoning now.

"James Toney has been a better heavyweight than anyone had imagined. But they just aren't developing these personalities in the press room."

And, unsurprisingly for a man who was still fighting at 48, George thinks Audley Harrison, Britain's 34-year-old former Olympic champion, has got plenty of time to make the grade.

"A lot of people wanted more from him sooner, but he knew better. He didn't rush because of his age and I'm happy about that.

"Audley Harrison is going to be heavyweight champion of the world in 2006, no doubt about it."

On my way back to the office, I see three boxing writers heaving George Foreman grills through Leicester Square.

Big George, who would snarl at journalists when he was champion first time round, now has their health in mind.