Foreman Wins, Just Barely : Boxing: Former champion takes a narrow decision from Alex Stewart in a fight to be remembered.

George Foreman not only needed the greatest fight of his comeback but perhaps something from his youth in order to pull out a narrow decision over Alex Stewart on Saturday night in a wildly cheered heavyweight fight at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Foreman, a heavy favorite, was badly battered in the late rounds by the unexpectedly tough Stewart, and in the final rounds the 43-year-old Texan’s head and face were grotesquely swollen. He had a severe nose bleed, which began in the ninth round, and he finished with swelling under both eyes that seemed to hamper his vision.

Unexpectedly, it was a wild fight and an early candidate for fight of the year. If any two fighters in 1992 stage a greater round than these two did in round eight, you can consider it for the round of the decade.

Foreman, a blubbery 259 pounds, was up against a lean 227-pounder who sought to regain the respect he once had in the heavyweight division. He had lost three of his last seven, all to prominent heavyweights, and this shaped up as his last stand as a prime-time fighter.

Stewart lost but he got his reputation back. He was in superb condition, and when he was badly hurt several times he fought with bravery and often with success. Many at ringside had him ahead on points.

One judge, Patricia Jarman, had it a 94-94 draw. But Art Lurie and Dalby Shirley both had Foreman, 94-93, making it a majority decision. The Times card had Foreman ahead, 95-93. Referee Richard Steele took a point away from Foreman in the 10th and final round for a low blow.

Foreman seemed to be on the verge of a quick knockout in the second round, when he had Stewart down twice, the first time from a roundhouse right to Stewart’s ear, the second from two strong jabs and a straight right.

Foreman advanced on Stewart throughout the fight, and for five rounds was in command because of accurate, thumping jabs that snapped Stewart’s head back. The impact of Foreman’s jabs could be heard in the fifth row.

Stewart turned the fight in his direction late in the fifth rounds with a 30-second flurry of jabs and right hands that rocked Foreman. All three judges gave Stewart at least three of the last five rounds.

Foreman still had his sense of humor at the end. He grabbed the ring microphone and said: “Ladies and gentlemen, can anyone tell me where the aspirin are?” And the crowd of 11,140 roared, just as it had stood and cheered both fighters for their memorable eighth round.

Stewart started the eighth with a huge uppercut that caught Foreman under the chin. Foreman rallied quickly, and had Stewart reeling on the ropes. Then Stewart snapped out of it and rocked Foreman back on his heels.

The eighth was the best round of sustained action seen in a heavyweight fight in years. Some called it the best heavyweight fight since the 1989 Evander Holyfield-Michael Dokes match or the 1990 Buster Douglas upset of Mike Tyson in Tokyo.

Foreman (71-3, 27-1 since his comeback) made $5 million, Stewart (29-3) earned $250,000.

In the co-feature, International Boxing Federation middleweight champion James Toney (29-0-2) outclassed Glen Wolfe (27-2-1) and won a unanimous decision.

Toney-Wolfe was a lively, action-filled fight, but Toney was in charge throughout. Wolfe showed bravery, a terrific chin, average hitting power, and 12-round stamina.

But he was outclassed by Toney, whose combinations rocked Wolfe. The judges scored it:117-111, 119-109 and 118-110. The Times card had it 119-109.