Eulogy

By George Foreman

When I think of ARCHIE MOORE, an old proverb comes to mind. Suppose you want to build a tower. First you sit down and figure the cost. Then you see if you have enough money to finish it. Otherwise, if you lay a foundation and can't complete the building, everyone will make fun of you. In all the years we talked while Archie was teaching me, he never complained about the years of being the No. 1 contender and being mistreated as champion. All I ever heard were these pieces of the foundation of a great American--the traveling on boxcars and sleeping where he could. On the night he won the Light-Heavyweight Championship but no money, there was that gleam in his eyes. When he uttered the word champion, that made me, too, want to be a champion. Working for me and other boxers, he made it clear: "I love God, my family, and I will love you if you work hard." So Archie laid the foundation, and today he stands as a tower for all athletes, saying, "If you want it, leave your excuses behind and come and get it." Will he be missed? No--he lives! Every time a boxer or any athlete is told you are too old or too little, we will see Archie Moore smiling as big as life, saying, "No, I did it." Rest in peace, champ. You fought a great fight.

--By George Foreman, former heavyweight champion