….Boxing heavyweight legend George Foreman has died aged 76.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Known as Big George in the ring, the American built one of the most remarkable and enduring careers in the sport, winning Olympic gold in 1968 and claiming the world heavyweight title twice, 21 years apart – the second making him the oldest champion in history aged 45.

He lost his first title to Muhammad Ali in their famous Rumble in the Jungle fight in 1974. But Foreman’s professional boxing career boasted an astonishing total of 76 wins including 68 knockouts, almost double that of Ali.

He retired from the sport in 1997 but not before he agreed to put his name to a best-selling grill – a decision that went on to bring him fortunes that dwarfed his boxing earnings.

George Foreman’s life in pictures
Sports legends and boxing fans pay tribute to heavyweight icon George Foreman.

His family said in a post on Instagram on Friday night: “Our hearts are broken.

“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.”

The statement added: “A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected – a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name – for his family.”

Foreman was born in Marshall, Texas, on 10 January 1949, and raised along with six siblings by a single mother in the segregated American South.

He dropped out of school and turned to street robberies before eventually finding his outlet in the ring.

Foreman won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, aged 19, before turning pro and winning 37 consecutive matches. He lost only five bouts over his career.

He beat previously undefeated reigning champion Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973 knocking him down six times in the first two rounds.

His 1974 Rumble in the Jungle against Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, remains one of the most famous boxing matches ever.

Ali, the older man, was the underdog after he was stripped of his crown seven years earlier for refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War.

Foreman reflected on the legendary fight 50 years later in an October interview with BBC World Service Newshour, explaining that everyone thought he was going to decimate Ali.

“Oh, he’s not going to last one round,” the boxer said experts were predicting at the time.

Foreman told the BBC he typically would get “real nervous” and have “butterflies” before any boxing match, but that night – it was the “most comfortable” he had felt.

But the wily Ali used a tactic that later became known as “rope-a-dope”, which wore out Foreman, causing him to throw out hundreds of punches before Ali unloaded on him in the eighth round and scored a knockout.

After a second professional loss, Foreman retired in 1977 and became an ordained minister at the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Texas, which he founded and built.

He told the BBC his defeat to Ali became the “best thing that ever happened to me” as it ultimately led him to “get my message out” through preaching.

The naira appreciated N1,580 per dollar in the parallel market, compared to N1,582 on Thursday.

However, the Naira depreciated to N1,538 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira rose to N1,538 per dollar from N1,536 per dollar Thursday, indicating N2 depreciation for the naira.

Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NFEM rate narrowed to N42 per dollar from N46 per dollar on Thursday.

However, in their Weekly Financial Market outlook for next week, analysts at CowryAsset Management Limited projected mixed performance for the naira as demand pressure deepened.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate a mixed outlook for the Naira as demand pressures for the greenback intensify, with foreign exchange, FX, users and speculators continuing to exploit arbitrage opportunities.

“ Nevertheless, we expect the CBN to sustain its weekly interventions in an effort to stabilise the local currency.”

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has defended the suspension of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, clarifying that the action was necessary and in line with the President’s constitutional responsibilities.

In a statement on Friday, March 21, Dare emphasised that Fubara’s suspension should not be confused with removal from office.

He further explained that Tinubu’s decision to intervene came in response to the ongoing political and security turmoil in the State, which had escalated to a point where presidential action was imperative.

Dare stated that the President’s intervention was a moral and legal obligation, mandated by the Constitution during times of crisis.

The statement reads in part: “In the case of Rivers state, turmoil and crisis had taken over. The rival stakeholders could not see their way toward resolution. Something had to be done before all became undone.

“In this case, President Tinubu stepped up as was his moral and legal obligation to do. In this case, the Constitution, the blueprint of our democracy spells out the options before the President in dire and emergency circumstances.

“The declaration of a state of emergency on Rivers state for 6-months is well within the stated powers of the President. This is settled by the very wording of the constitution itself and backed by judicial precedents. President Tinubu has not being overbearing.

“Since the declaration was made Nigerians have heard legal and political opinions and analyses of different shades. This discourse is healthy for our democracy but cannot substitute for the rule of law and the proper interpretation of our constitution.

“The frenzy by opponents of the President has hit a high pitch. They have placed themselves in opposition to what the law says about the powers and authority of the President because they have previously placed themselves in political opposition to the President.

“The powers conferred on the President in this instance and the will to use it when the situation warrants are the difference between an indecisive leader and a courageous, committed one.

“The Supreme Court understands this and is very careful in instances such as this.”