Sports Fact of the Day 1/24/2007

1/24/1976:
George Foreman knocks out Ron Lyle in a furious heavyweight slugfest at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Foreman survives two knockdowns in the fourth round to finally stop the onrushing Lyle at 2:28 of the fifth. It's his first fight since losing the heavyweight title to Muhammad Ali 15 months ago in Kinshasa, Zaire, and it takes him a few rounds to find the range for his formidable punching power. Finally, late in the fifth round, Lyle is distracted by an ill-fitting mouthpiece, tries to cover up and is overwhelmed by Foreman's telling blows.

Birthdays:
Giorgio Chinaglia b. 1947
Mary Lou Retton b. 1968
Tshimanga Biakabutuka b. 1974