Heavyweight Boxing Legend George Foreman Dies at 76, Family Confirms

Heavyweight Boxing Legend George Foreman Dies at 76, Family Confirms

George Foreman, the former heavyweight champion who famously lost to Muhammad Ali in the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" and later reclaimed the title two decades later, has passed away at the age of 76, his family confirmed in a statement. "With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones," the family said in a post on the boxer's official Instagram account.

"We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers and respectfully ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own."

Born in Texas on January 10, 1949, and raised in Houston, Foreman’s upbringing was marked by the absence of his biological father, a decorated World War II veteran, who reached out after Foreman won the world heavyweight title. Foreman was raised by J. D. Foreman, whom he later learned was not his biological father.

During his adolescence, Foreman struggled with crime and dropped out of school at the age of 16. "At 13, George was about 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, and the terror of the neighborhood," his younger brother Roy recalled in 2024. "When you're bigger, stronger, and think you're better than everyone else, you take things."

At 16, he took up boxing. "I wanted to be a football player," Foreman said on his website. "I tried boxing just to show my friends that I wasn't afraid. Well, 25 fights and one year later, I was an Olympic gold medalist."

In 1968, at just 19 years old, Foreman won the super-heavyweight gold at the Mexico City Olympics, celebrating with an American flag just days after the Black Power salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

At 6-foot-4 and known as 'Big George,' Foreman dominated the boxing world with his power and strength. He defeated Joe Frazier in two rounds to win the heavyweight title. By the time he fought Muhammad Ali in the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974, Foreman had a perfect record of 40-0, with 37 knockouts. However, Ali's "rope-a-dope" tactics wore down Foreman, who lost in the eighth round, marking a devastating blow to his confidence.

Foreman’s journey to reclaim the title took a twist after his loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, after which he felt a calling to change his life and retired at 28 to become an ordained minister. His comeback in 1987, with a bald head and a new physique, initially seemed like a gimmick, but he later revealed it was driven by his need for money to fund his youth center.

Over the next few years, Foreman won 20 out of 21 bouts, setting up a 1994 title shot against Michael Moorer. At 45 years old, Foreman knocked out Moorer in the 10th round, becoming the oldest heavyweight world champion in history.

Foreman retired again in 1997, after losing to Shannon Briggs, with a professional record of 81 fights, 76 wins, and 68 knockouts.

Outside the ring, Foreman became a household name with the "George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine" and appeared in TV commercials, portraying a friendly, approachable persona. He also hosted the 1996 show Bad Dads.

A devoted family man, Foreman was married four times, fathered 10 children, and adopted two. He named all five of his sons George Edward, explaining, “If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, we all go down together!”

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