Via Ken Hissner: I wrote for a boxing website called “Fighters of Faith” with Christian fighters like Dave “TNT” Tiberi, Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield, “Big” George Foreman, Marvis Frazier, Ebo Elder, and others.
In boxing, the word “Risen” can mean when Richie Kates knocked out Matthew Saad Muhammad in front of him only to watch him “rise” and go back and stop Kates in February 1978 in the ring. Friday at the Philadelphia Spectrum.
Then, WBC World Heavyweight Champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” stood up from the frame after being beaten by WBC champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, only to return and stop Wilder in October. in 2021 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in the eleventh round.
Light and heavyweight champion Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, 51-7 (24), a two-time IBF and IBF world champion out of North Dakota, paid tribute to God and his savior after the his match.
“Big” George Foreman, 76-5 (68) of Houston, Texas, in March 1977, after losing to Jimmy Young of Philadelphia, 20-5-2, over 12 rounds at the Roberto Clemente Coliseo in San Juan, Puerto Rico, lying on his dressing room table had a profound religious experience that changed his life forever!
Although George was the leading contender to regain the heavyweight belt, he retired from boxing at the age of 28 to serve God. George became an ordained minister and has been preaching at the Church of Jesus Christ since 1980.
“(In the late 1970s) I occasionally preached in church, and I loved to preach, so I bought 30 minutes of Houston radio and continued to preach. On my show, I talked a little bit about boxing and a lot about good God.
I live in Humble, a suburb of Houston, so when I get into town to do my radio show, it’s not uncommon for some friends from my old church to ask me to conduct a study session. Bible or pray with them. Three or four of us met in different places; Soon there were six or eight people, then ten people in attendance.”
I attended a Calvary Chapel church in Philadelphia, where Pastor Joe Focht had amateur outings in South Philadelphia during his younger years. Buddy Osborn, who attended school there, got out of prison, a former Pennsylvania Golden Glove champion, to start his own church called Rock Ministry in one of the worst drug-hit areas. of the city of Kensington.
WBO NABO lightweight champion Ebo “the X-treme Machine” Elder, 22-3 (14), of Newman, Georgia, who appeared on “Contender” in 2006, became an ordained minister of Calvary Chapel Church.
In December 2004, he returned to stop Courtney Burton, 21-2, in his first defense of the twelfth and final of an even round after eleven innings. He went to Burton, who had been placed on a stool, knelt down and prayed for him.
Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong, 149-21-10 (99), 3rd world champion, became an ordained minister and devoted himself to underprivileged children.
Heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, 44-10-2 (29), of Atlanta, Georgia, became a Christian. After losing to Michael Moorer in April 1994, he was diagnosed with heart disease and announced his retirement. In June, he said he was healed by faith healer Benny Hinn and plans to return to the boxing he did. In 1997, he had two famous fights defeating champion Mike Tyson. He regained the title in 2000, defeating WBA champion John Ruiz.
