Joe Frazier vs. George Foreman and again won by technical knockout, this time in the fifth round. A year later, Foreman lost to Jimmy Young in San Juan, Puerto Rico in a fight to determine the No. 1 contender, and it was after this fight that Foreman had his near-death experience and conversion. He subsequently retired and became a preacher but made a comeback after a decade away from the ring, eventually defeating Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion of all time in 1994 at almost 46 years old. Rest Joe Frazier vs. George Foreman Joe Frazier vs. George Foreman, billed as "The
Boxing in the 1980s the heavyweight division, which had seen a decline in champion quality level (particularly in the WBA side) after Ali's retirement and, later on, after longtime WBC ruler Larry Holmes' prime. In addition, the IBF and WBO began operating. Another important aspect of boxing in the 1980s was the rivalry between five world champions: Wilfred Benítez, Roberto Durán, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard. Of all the possible match-ups between these five, Benitez-Hagler was the only one that never happened. The circle of fights between these five gladiators actually began on November 30, 1979, when Leonard beat Benitez by