Film Review: ‘Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World’

Written by: Kelly Meade (04/27/23)

From humble beginnings to becoming a champion boxer, the story of George Foreman is one that journeys through the highs and lows of the human experience. Based on actual events, Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World explores the life of this boxing legend and the challenges and triumphs he faced to get there.

Before finding his way to the boxing ring, George and his family didn’t have much. George’s mother was a hard working woman of strong faith who always encouraged George and his siblings to pray and trust in God’s provision.

In his younger years, George was bullied and harbored anger that led to fights among other troubles. However, George took the initiative to try to make his life better by joining the Job Corps in an attempt to learn a skilled trade. After an incident, his temper surfaced once more risking George losing his place in the Job Corps. This caught the attention of Doc Broadus, a man working within Job Corps, who would become his mentor and introduce George to the world of boxing as a sport.

Having seen the aftermath of his strength and fighting, Doc taught George to redirect his anger through the techniques of the sport to help him become a champion. The wins and championships came at a cost – personally, physically & spiritually – as pride threatened to take everything away. After witnessing what his family considers to be a miracle, things start to shift in George’s heart & mind. During a pivotal fight, a life-changing encounter instantly brought about a decision to fully accept Jesus into his heart.

Becoming an ordained minister, George decided to leave boxing to focus on ministry full-time. In the years following, he found himself bankrupt due to his accountant’s poor choices. Through a series of events, the former champion became determined to get back into the ring – this time with his faith intact. After achieving what no one thought was possible, George regained what he’d lost and more with a comeback story that would become a legendary moment in sports history. Throughout it all, George Foreman not only cemented his place in the sport of boxing, but he also gave back and invested into the next generation with a youth center while also serving his local church and community.

Big George Foreman is more than a sports film. It’s a story that tells of determination, never giving up, finding true faith and realizing what really matters. You don’t have to be a boxing fan to appreciate the overall message as the heart of the film is something that many can relate to with themes of trust, forgiveness & getting back up after a defeat that are an encouragement to all.

Cast includes:
Khris Davis – George Foreman
Forest Whitaker – Doc Broadus
Jasmine Mathews – Mary Joan
Sullivan Jones – Muhammad Ali

3.8/5