Al Foreman

Al Foreman (3 November 1904 in London – 23 December 1954), was a British-born boxer of the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s who in the last four years of his career won the Canadian lightweight title, British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) British lightweight title, and British Empire lightweight title.

Albert Foreman was born in London, England on 3 November 1904.

He was orphaned at four years of age, and for ten years lived in an orphanage, the Hayes School for Jewish Boys in Middlesex on the outskirts of London.

At fourteen, he ran away from the orphanage and attempted to join the Army in the midst of WWI.

Too young for combat, the Army allowed him to join the famous Black Watch infantry regiment in a non-combat role as a drummer boy, after he obtained his orphanage's permission.

When the war immediately ended, Foreman was reassigned to occupation duty in Germany.

He began boxing for the British Army with considerable success.

In his early career he scored an impressive record of 40 wins, 12 losses, and 7 draws, with 30 wins by knockout.

During his early career in England, he often fought under the name Bert "Kid" Harris.

He unsuccessfully contended for the Canadian Featherweight title against Leo Roy in Montreal on 8 May 1924.

In 1924, Foreman moved to Canada from Great Britain, where in time he gained citizenship.

Around late 1924–26, Foreman fought for the United States Army during a two-year hitch, eventually winning the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps Featherweight Championship.

During this period, though continuing to fight professionally, he fought exclusively in the United States, boxing several matches at Fort Myers in Virginia where he was probably stationed, and the Barracks in Washington, D. C. While boxing for the Army, he amassed an impressive record of wins with a high percentage of knockouts.

Showing strong punching throughout the fight on 1 January 1927, Foreman defeated Carl Tremaine in Philadelphia in a ninth round disqualification.

For the first nine rounds, Foreman had the best of the battle, finally winning the decision when Tremaine struck low, despite the referee's prior warnings to raise his punching.

Tremaine was saved from a knockout in the third round only by the closing bell, when Foreman tagged him with a right cross that buckled his knees.

The win focused more attention on Foreman as a likely candidate for the featherweight or junior lightweight title.

On 24 January 1927, released from his Army service, Foreman faced former world junior-lightweight champion Mike Ballerino at the arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, impressively winning the close bout in a ten-round points decision.

Foreman fought the bout at only 126, as a featherweight, against a heavier 133 pound lightweight Ballerino.

Foreman used his right repeatedly on Ballerino, who with an effective defense withstood the blows of his opponent, but noticeably showed the effects of Foreman's punches in the first round.

Ballerino fought cautiously until the tenth, when letting down his guard, he was again staggered by the blows of Foreman.

On 9 May 1927, he lost to former Featherweight World Champion, Louis "Kid" Kaplan in a ten-round points decision at the Arena in Philadelphia.

Foreman was decisively beaten by his skilled Jewish opponent who "chased the Washington lad all over the ring for the entire ten rounds".

Foreman still received a number of well placed punches and had difficulty finishing the bout.

In the eyes of many, the loss reduced Foreman's chances of taking a Lightweight or Junior Lightweight World Title.

Foreman remained boxing in the United States roughly through 1928.

He lost to future Junior Welterweight Champion Johnny Jadick on 21 May 1928, in an eight-round points decision at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Foreman earned the right to challenge Kid Roy for the British lightweight title by defeating French boxer George Chabot on 10 October 1928, in a decisive fourth round knockout in Montreal.

Foreman first took the Canadian Lightweight title on 22 October 1928, against Leo "Kid" Roy in a second-round TKO.

In a decisive victory, Foreman floored Roy four times before a crowd of 4,000 at the Forum in Montreal.

The Globe of Toronto disputed Foreman's claim to the title as he had fought in the United States, and served in the US military as a boxer for a two-year enlistment.

He had, however lived in Montreal for a portion of the last four years, and had obtained Canadian citizenship.

While Canadian champion, Foreman drew with top lightweight contender Phil McGraw on 26 June 1929 in an important ten round decision in Montreal.

Shortly before the bout, McGraw correctly predicted that Foreman would not knock him out, and that the fight would go the full ten rounds.

He first took the Canadian Lightweight title against Leo "Kid" Roy in 1928, and took the BBBofC British Lightweight Title on 21 February 1930, in a first-round knockout of reigning champion Fred Webster in the Whitechapel District of London.

He was an amazingly durable fighter having few if any knockouts counted against him in his career, yet knocking out an exceptionally high percentage of his opponents.

His professional fighting weight varied from 125 lb, to 136 lb. Foreman was managed by his brothers, Maurice and Harry.

One of Foreman's better known opponents, Jadick would take the World Jr. Welterweight Championship on 18 July 1932, against the incomparable Tony Canzoneri.

He lived intermittently in Montreal during the next ten years of his boxing career, but settled there after his retirement from boxing in 1934.

His years of boxing in the United States allowed him to hone his skills against some of the greatest boxers of the era.