George Foreman takes a terrible beating but escapes with a win over hard-hitting Alex Stewart in a battle between knockout artists. In the second round, Foreman lands a right hand that puts Stewart down on all fours. Stewart beats the count but is dropped onto his backside in the corner by a one-two from Foreman. He somehow comes back to land hard shots in the fourth, including one as Foreman has his hands on his hips while talking to someone in the crowd. With Foreman's face busted up and swelling horribly, Stewart hammers away at him with haymakers against the ropes to end the seventh round. The former Heavyweight Champion comes back to put Stewart in big trouble in the eighth, staggering him with uppercuts. Foreman loses a point for repeated low blows in the twelfth and final round but still manages to earn a majority decision and keep his comeback alive.

George Foreman vs. Alex Stewart

Making the first defense of his second reign as Heavyweight Champion, George Foreman gets a gift decision against Axel Schultz of Germany. Schultz does a number on Foreman for much of the fight and stings him with a big right hand in the ninth round. Foreman goes for broke in the eleventh, but Schultz finishes stronger in the twelfth. After twelve rounds, Foreman is inexplicably declared the winner and retains his title by a highly controversial majority decision.

Celebration: George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz

There was a crowd of 18,036 at Madison Square Garden, which generated a gate of $196,026.
After Foreman knocked out Kirkman, Madison Square Garden showed World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier's title defense against Bob Foster on closed circuit TV live from Detroit.
Foreman rushed out of his corner at the start of round one and pushed Kirkman down to the canvas. Referee Arthur Mercante warned Foreman for his rough tactics.
Foreman dropped Kirkman with a right in the final minute of the first round. Kirkman got up at the count of three.
Foreman again pushed Kirkman down to the canvas at the end of the first round. At the bell, Mercante took the round away from Foreman.
Foreman dropped Kirkman with a right early in round two. Kirkman got up at the count of four. His legs were very unsteady, but Mercante allowed him to continue.
After Foreman scored a second knockdown, Mercante stopped the bout to protect Kirkman from further punishment.
On April 26, 1975, Foreman boxed five three-round exhibitions against five boxers in Toronto. Kirkman was the last opponent. Foreman dropped him in the first round, but Kirkman came back and stunned Foreman with a left hook in round two. The exhibition went the full three rounds.

George Foreman vs. Alex Stewart

Celebration: George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz

George Foreman vs Boone Kirkman

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