George Foreman's real boxing career stats and records make the true story behind Big George Foreman even more inspiring and impressive.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Big George Foreman.

Big George Foreman chronicles the highs and lows of George Foreman's (Khris Davis) incredible life both in and out of the ring, and his actual boxing career stats and records are as impressive as the man himself. The sports biopic traces Foreman's journey from being an impoverished child in Texas to a tumultuous young adult who, with help from the Job Corps, channels his feelings of inferiority into boxing, and eventually a shot at Olympic gold and the World Heavyweight Championship. A surprising loss sends him spiraling until he turns to family and faith to regain the internal fortitude necessary to reclaim the glory of his younger days.

Big George Foreman's cast is full of the people who supported Foreman along his journey to win the World Heavyweight Championship a second time, when even his most ardent fans thought he was well past his prime, from his wife Mary Joan (Jasmine Mathews) to his longtime friend and trainer Doc Broadus (Forest Whitaker). Foreman fought against boxing legends like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and in the mid-'70s there wasn't anyone more feared in the ring. His list of accomplishments speaks for itself and illuminates one of the greatest comeback stories in sports history.

George Foreman Won The Heavyweight Championship Twice

Acting as bookends for the true story that inspired Big George Foreman are Foreman's World Heavyweight Championship victories at two very different times in his life. The first is Foreman's win against Joe Frazier, who had taken the heavyweight title from Muhammad Ali, when Foreman wasn't very well-known in professional boxing. Foreman knocked Smokin' Joe out in the second round of their bout in 1973 and cemented himself as an imposing contender against his previously undefeated opponent.

Foreman defended the belt two more times before going up against Ali the following year for their 1974 Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire, an event which Big George Foreman shows captured the public attention whether they knew anything about boxing or not. Foreman lost to Ali by knockout in his first professional — and personally devastating — loss, making him deeply question his skills as a boxer. A few years later, after losing to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman would decide to retire and pursue being a minister, as well as opening a gym and youth center.

George Foreman Won The Gold Medal In Heavyweight Boxing At The 1968 Olympics

Facing extreme classism as a child and racially motivated tension in Marshall, Texas created a rage in Foreman which mentors like Doc Broadus sought to temper through boxing. After becoming an amateur boxer in Texas, Foreman represented the United States at the Mexico City Olympic Games as a member of the heavyweight division at 19 years old. At 6'4" and already over 200 pounds, he was an impressive specimen for being so young but was tested in the final round by Jonas Cepulis, who at 29 years old had already been boxing for over a decade.

Defeating Cepulis in the final round and winning the gold medal for the United States inspired Foreman to go pro the following year. With over a dozen fights lined up, most he defeated by his legendary knockout, including distinguished opponents like Gregorio Peralta and George Chuvalo, who had very different styles than Foreman. It was clear by the early '70s that Foreman was gunning for Joe Frazier's undefeated and undisputed run as World Heavyweight Champion, and in 1973 The Sunshine Showdown became one of the most electrifying events in Foreman's career.

George Foreman Came Back From Retirement To Be The Oldest World Heavyweight Champion In History

After failing to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Ali thanks to his opponent's incredibly aggressive approach, Foreman became depressed; it was the first time he'd been knocked down in his career, and unable to secure a rematch against Ali, he decided to pursue other means of testing himself against previous opponents like Joe Frazier. His bout with Jimmy Young in 1977 led to a near-death experience, which brought him closer to a Higher Power, and he dedicated the next decade of his life to Christianity. As an ordained minister, he found as much fulfillment from his congregation as an arena of fans chanting his name.

Eventually, after financial setbacks threatened the youth center, Foreman announced his comeback to the world of boxing at 38. Despite being out of shape, he was determined to prove that being an older boxer wasn't something to be ashamed of. After he defeated Michael Moorer, who was almost 20 years younger than him in 1994, he became the World Heavyweight Champion at 45 and set several records, including the largest age gap between world heavyweight fighters, and the longest period of time between world heavyweight championship matches.

George Foreman Only Lost Five Fights In His Professional Career

As Big George Foreman highlights, Foreman remains one of the most inspiring underdogs in sports movies because while he only lost five fights in his professional career, they were losses that affected his spirit, and with each one, he made the conscious choice to come back stronger. Of the 81 fights in his professional boxing career, he had 76 wins, 68 by KO and 8 by decision, and of his five losses, 4 were by decision to Shannon Briggs, Tommy Morrison, Evander Holyfield, and Jimmy Young, with the 1 knockout going to Muhammad Ali, one of Foreman's most formidable opponents.

Foreman's unwavering fighting spirit, which used to be attributed to a depthless anger at the unfairness of the world eventually became a beacon of hope. He went from being a scowling champion to a smiling underdog, and with his change in attitude came a change in fighting technique. Big George Foreman shows that Foreman's big heart was every bit as crucial to his amazing boxing career as his KO.