ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Former world heavyweight champion George Foreman will take step No. 9 of his comeback Saturday when he faces Frank 'Gator' Williams in a scheduled 10-round match.
Foreman is 53-2 with50 knockouts, including eight straight knockouts since coming out of retirement 14 months ago.
'What I wanted to do is not start off too fast,' said Foreman, who has faced mediocre talent at best during his comeback. 'A lot of ex-champs want to start at the top. I'm not in a rush.'
Foreman says he is 39. The Ring Record Book list him at 40. 'I do not believe my age has anything to do with my ability,' he said.
Foreman's abilities brought him an Olympic gold medal in 1968, and he became the world heavywight champion Jan. 22, 1973, when he knocked down Joe Frazier six times, stopping him in the second round.
He successfully defended his title twice, knocking out Joe 'King' Roman and Ken Norton. But Muhammad Ali took Foreman's title by knocking him out in the eighth round Oct. 30, 1974, in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Foreman, of Houston, retired from boxing in 1977 and became a preacher. During that time he ballooned to 315 pounds. But the born-again boxer has been working it off -- even sweating some pounds off in Alaska, much to his surprise, during pre-fight training. The 6-foot-4 Foreman expects to saunter into the ring at about 240 pounds.
Foreman arrived in Alaska last week, bringing some sparring partners with him, and intending to get in a little fishing. He found time to preach at an Anchorage church Sunday to a rapt congregation interrupting with only an occasional 'Amen.'
He delighted fans by choosing communities 40 miles north of Anchorage, Wasilla and Palmer, to stay and train for a few days upon his arrival. Saturday's fight will be in the Sullivan arena in Anchorage and will be broadcast nationwide on cable television.
The former champ wants a shot at undisputed heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, who is scheduled to fight Michael Spinks June 27.
Foreman said he has chosen to fight journeymen on his comeback trail as a smart way to box himself back into shape before taking on the world's best heavyweights. He has concentrated on fighting shorter ones.
'I've tried to lean toward fighters that are six feet and under because the champ of the world is not a tall guy,' he said of the 5-foot-11 Tyson.
Foreman knocked out his last opponent, Dwight Muhammed Qawi, in March.
Williams, of Leclaire, Iowa, is 36-14-3 with 23 knockouts.
Alaska is not exactly on the boxing circuit, but Foreman is not the first fighter to follow a comeback trail to the far north. Former top-ranked heavyweight Gerry Cooney re-emerged from a two-year hiatus from boxing in a 1984 Anchorage fight, followed in 1985 by lightweight Alexis Arguello.
