Former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, renowned for his iconic bouts and larger-than-life personality, passed away on Friday, March 21, at the age of 76.
His family confirmed his death in a statement, revealing that he died peacefully on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own,” the family said in a statement on Instagram.
Nicknamed "Big George," Foreman etched his name into boxing history with an illustrious career that spanned decades. He fought 81 professional bouts, winning 76, with an astonishing 68 victories by knockout.
Foreman first rose to fame in 1968, winning an Olympic gold medal in the super-heavyweight division at the Mexico City Games. He quickly transitioned into professional boxing, making headlines in 1973 when he dismantled then-heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in two rounds. However, his most famous fight came a year later in the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” against Muhammad Ali. Foreman, then undefeated in 40 fights, was outmaneuvered by Ali’s legendary “rope-a-dope” strategy and lost his title in the eighth round.
“I just couldn’t believe I’d lost the world title,” Foreman later admitted. “It was the most embarrassing moment of my life. It went from pride to pity. That’s devastating.”
Following his defeat, Foreman attempted a comeback but suffered another setback against Jimmy Young in 1977. Soon after, he experienced what he described as a religious awakening, retired at age 28, and became an ordained minister.
Ten years later, a transformed Foreman—bald, heavier, and seemingly past his prime—stunned the boxing world by announcing a comeback. What began as a perceived gimmick turned into one of the greatest redemption stories in sports history. He fought 21 times over three years, earning a title shot against Evander Holyfield in 1991 and another against Tommy Morrison in 1993, both of which he lost on points.
However, in 1994, Foreman shocked the world when he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round to reclaim the heavyweight title—20 years after his loss to Ali. At 45 years and 299 days old, he became the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
Although he was stripped of his WBA and IBF titles for refusing mandatory defenses, Foreman continued to fight, retiring for good in 1997 at the age of 48 after a loss to Shannon Briggs.
Beyond boxing, Foreman became a cultural icon with his endorsement of the "George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine," a product that turned him into a household name and a multimillionaire.
Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum paid tribute to Foreman, calling him “one of the biggest punchers and personalities the sport has ever seen.”
Born on January 10, 1949, in Houston, Texas, Foreman grew up in a challenging environment. As a troubled teenager, he left school at 16 and turned to crime before finding discipline through boxing.
Foreman married four times and fathered 10 children, adopting two more. Notably, 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!’”
His legacy as a two-time heavyweight champion, Olympic gold medalist, and pop culture icon ensures that his impact on boxing and beyond will endure.
