Saturday June 6, 06:54 AM

George Foreman III aims to make his own name in the ring

HOUSTON (Reuters) - George Foreman III, son of former heavyweight champion George Foreman, aims to make a name for himself in the ring when he makes his boxing debut in Louisiana on Saturday.

Foreman, whose four brothers are also called George, goes by the nickname 'Monk'.

He will be the first Foreman boy to follow in his famous father's footsteps with a four-rounder at Coushatta Casino Resort against Clyde Weaver.

The 26-year-old Monk is trying his hand at his dad's old profession after working as his father's business manager, armed with a business degree from Rice University.

Now the roles are being reversed, with the former champion serving as his son's boxing manager.

George Foreman, whose famous fights included bouts with Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, even stepped in and sparred with his son to help him prepare.

Like his dad, Monk is a big man, standing 6-foot-5 (1.96m) and weighing 240 pounds (109 kg).

While George Foreman prepared for his professional career by winning an Olympic gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Games, Monk's athletic background primarily featured lacrosse.

Monk is branching out after helping to manage a family fortune stoked by profits from the George Foreman Grill business but his first opponent is not much more experienced.

Weaver carries an 0-1 record into the bout.

(Writing by Larry Fine in New York, Editing by Alison Wildey

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