‘Big George’ might have retired two decades ago but the fact he is still named as one of the best ever boxers shows how good he was in the ring.

Celebrating his 68th birthday today, Foreman’s potential was there to see when he took gold in the heavyweight category at the 1968 Olympic Games.

He turned professional a year later and won the world heavyweight title by beating undefeated Joe Frazier in 1973, before suffering his first loss to Muhammad Ali in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ 12 months later.

Having retired in 1977, he announced his comeback aged 45, in 1994, knocking out 27-year-old Michael Moorer to win the unified WBA and IBF belts.

Foreman called it quits for the second time in 1997 with a record of 76 wins, five losses and 68 knockouts and is now inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.

Other sports stars born on this day: 

1976: Ian Poulter, English golfer and former Ryder Cup winner, who has 16 professional victories (41).

1984: Marouane Chamakh, Moroccan striker who played for Arsenal and Crystal Palace (33).

1987: Cesar Cielo, Brazil’s 2008 Olympic 50m freestyle champion and six-time world champion (30).

1992: Emmanuel Frimpong, former Arsenal midfielder, now with Russian club Arsenal Tula (25).