George Foreman
1968 Olympic Gold Medal Available for Auction
Published
Before George Foreman became the heavyweight champion by defeating Joe Frazier and faced Muhammad Ali in a legendary bout, he achieved Olympic gold in 1968. Now, this prestigious medal is up for auction.
At just 19 years old, Foreman showcased remarkable skill at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, overpowering his competitors throughout the tournament.
Foreman’s most significant challenge came during his opening match against Poland’s Lucjan Trela, which he won decisively with a score of 4-1.
Following that, Foreman continued his dominance, defeating Ion Alexe of Romania in the quarterfinals, leading to a referee stoppage in the third round.
In the semifinals, Foreman delivered a powerful performance, knocking down Italy’s Giorgio Bambini three times and winning by knockout in the second round.
The finals saw Foreman continue his success as he decisively defeated Jonas Cepulis from the Soviet Union by referee stoppage in the second round, securing the gold medal.
The medal from the final match on October 26, 1968, is currently available at Lelands Auction, where it has already attracted multiple bids, with the auction closing next Saturday.
The story behind how Lelands acquired this historic medal is quite intriguing.
According to Lelands, Foreman was once neighbors with the consignor’s mother in Houston during the 1970s. He had asked her if he could store some boxes in her garage, and she agreed.
Years later, when the daughter of the neighbor sorted through her mother’s belongings, she discovered several items belonging to Foreman, including trophies, a driver’s license, and the gold medal.
The opportunity to own this historic piece of sports memorabilia is now available.
Happy bidding!
