On November 5, 1994, 45-year-old George Foreman knocked out undefeated champion Michael Moorer in the 10th round at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

Foreman had left boxing in 1977 to become a preacher in Houston. He came back in 1987, at 38 and 267 pounds, to keep his youth center open. Rather than hide his age and weight, he rebuilt his image around them, trading the menace of his younger years for a smiling, cheeseburger-joking persona that drew crowds and paydays.

The Moorer fight almost didn't happen. The World Boxing Association didn't rank Foreman and refused to sanction the bout, until promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank sued and a Nevada judge ruled the organization had acted capriciously. Moorer took the fight because Foreman was the draw. Foreman leaned into the story, wearing the red trunks from his 1974 loss to Muhammad Ali, with Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee in his corner, and won with one right hand while trailing on the scorecards.

Foreman then treated the title like a business asset, giving up the WBA belt rather than fight its top contender and taking a bigger payday against Axel Schulz. The credibility he built also made him a believable pitchman. After Salton's grill flopped with retailers, Foreman's unscripted bite of a burger on QVC set off a wave of orders, and in 1999 Salton paid $137.5 million for the right to use his name. The story shows how a perceived weakness can become the core of a brand.

Written and hosted by Ron Trucks. Research and editing by Rodney Russ. Sound design by Angela Cahoy. Music by Cody Martin and Soundstripe.

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