BIG GEORGE'S TITLE DEFENSE COULD COME IN THE GARDEN

     "Madison Square Garden, out of the boxing business for more
than 18 months, would like to return to boxing in a big way --
with George Foreman's first title defense."  MSG  President Dave
Checketts "floated" the idea to Seth Abraham, President of Time
Warner Sports.  But Bob Arum, Foreman's promoter, quickly shot
down the deal: "George is not going to subject himself to the 11%
state and city taxes you have to pay to fight in New York."  But
Checketts still hopes to land Foreman: "The crowd treats it like
a big event and I know George loves New York" (N.Y. POST, 11/22).
Abraham said the  Astrodome or Superdome are "more appealing" to
Foreman (Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 11/22).