JO Sports Inc.
HISTORY: On September 1, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan world heavyweight champion George Foreman defended his title against Joe "King" Roman. Foreman knocked Roman out in the very first round. This was the first World Heavyweight Championship fight held in Japan. Both the WBA and WBC ranked Roman as the No. 9 heavyweight contender. Foreman was a prohibitive betting favorite. On the day of the fight, Foreman announced that he would donate $10,000 of his $1 million purse to a Japanese home for disabled children. Roman's purse was $100,000. The fight was shown on closed circuit television in the United States. There was a crowd of about 7,500. The fight took place in a 17-foot ring. Roman attempted to move against Foreman, but the champion trapped him on the ropes about a minute into the fight and unloaded. Roman bobbed and weaved as he tried to avoid Foreman's wild swings. Roman went down, but Referee Jay Edson ruled it was not a knockdown. However, Foreman hit Roman with a right to the jaw while he was down. Roman's manager, Bill Daly, and trainer, Al Braverman, immediately climbed onto the ring apron and protested to Edson, who said Foreman didn't do anything illegal. He said Foreman was just following through with his punches. Foreman denied it was an intentional punch. Edson said he did not give Roman, who was down for less than 10 seconds, any additional time to recover because the punch was losing force as he went down, and Roman said he was okay when he got up. Several seconds after the fight resumed, Foreman dropped Roman with a right to the chin. Roman was able to get up, but a right uppercut put him down again. He was counted out two minutes into the fight. Offered here is an original, closed circuit poster for this fight which was shown at the Spectrum in Philadelphia as part of their live boxing show.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original, cardboard, closed circuit poster which names and pictures both Foreman and Roman. Bold color and print. Bold, clear images. Clean front and back. No tack holes. Not creased or torn. 22" x 28."
