Foreman-Moorer Bout Scheduled For February In New York City

The long-rumored rematch between heavyweights George Foreman and Michael Moorer is virtually set for Feb. 29 at Madison Square Garden, according to a published report.

Foreman, who turns 47 in January, knocked out Moorer last November to win the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles and become the oldest heavyweight champion in history. But he since has been stripped of both.

Their rematch would head an all-heavyweight card planned by promoter Bob Arum and aimed at pay-per-view TV, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.

The Garden has set out to regain at least some of its glory as a boxing mecca, and would like to have a major event to commemorate the 25th anniversary in March of the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight.

John Cirillo, the arena’s senior vice president, said two months ago that Foreman “had shown keen interest in fighting his last hurrah in the Garden.”

Foreman last fought on April 22 when he took a majority decision over little-known Axel Schulz of Germany in a fight many thought Foreman lost. He later refused to give Schulz a rematch and was stripped of his titles.

Arum, who promoted the fight, said Foreman wanted only one more bout before going into his second retirement, and felt he owed Moorer the shot.