Legend Boxer George Foreman Dies At 76
American boxing icon George Foreman, widely known as “Big George,” has passed away at the age of 76, his family has confirmed.
Foreman built an extraordinary and enduring career in the sport, winning Olympic gold in 1968 and securing the world heavyweight title twice—21 years apart. His second title victory at age 45 made him the oldest heavyweight champion in history, according to the BBC.
He first claimed the world title in 1973 by defeating the undefeated Joe Frazier in Jamaica, knocking him down six times in the first two rounds. However, he famously lost the belt to Muhammad Ali in the legendary Rumble in the Jungle in 1974, a fight that remains one of the most iconic moments in boxing history.
Foreman retired with an impressive professional record of 76 wins, including 68 knockouts—almost double that of Ali—while suffering only five losses. He initially stepped away from boxing in 1977 but made a remarkable comeback a decade later, culminating in his historic second title win in 1994. He finally retired from the sport in 1997.
Beyond the ring, Foreman became a successful entrepreneur, lending his name to the George Foreman Grill, which earned him far more than his boxing career.
His family announced his passing in an Instagram post on Friday night, saying: “Our hearts are broken. A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.”
The statement continued: “A humanitarian, an Olympian, and a two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected—a force for good, a man of discipline and conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name for his family.”
Born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, Foreman grew up in a tough environment, raised by his single mother alongside six siblings in the segregated South. He dropped out of school and turned to street crime before discovering boxing, which became his salvation.
At just 19 years old, Foreman won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City before turning professional and embarking on a dominant early career, winning 37 consecutive fights.
His 1974 fight against Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), remains one of the most famous bouts in history. Despite being the overwhelming favourite, Foreman was outsmarted by Ali’s now-famous “rope-a-dope” strategy, which exhausted him before Ali secured an eighth-round knockout.
Reflecting on the fight nearly 50 years later, Foreman recalled in an interview with BBC World Service Newshour that experts had predicted an easy victory for him. “Oh, he’s not going to last one round,” he remembered people saying. But that night, despite usually feeling nervous before fights, he felt remarkably comfortable—until Ali turned the tide.
Foreman’s legacy extends far beyond the ring, leaving an indelible mark on both sports and business, as well as on the countless lives he touched through his humanitarian work.
