Former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman has died at the age of 76.
Known as “Big George,” Foreman had one of the most extraordinary careers in boxing history. He won Olympic gold in 1968 before capturing the world heavyweight title twice—21 years apart—becoming the oldest champion ever at 45.
Foreman first won the heavyweight title in 1973 by knocking out Joe Frazier six times in two rounds. He famously lost the belt the following year to Muhammad Ali in the legendary Rumble in the Jungle, where Ali’s “rope-a-dope” strategy wore him down before scoring an eighth-round knockout. Despite the loss, Foreman amassed a remarkable 76 career wins, 68 by knockout—nearly twice as many as Ali.
After retiring in 1977, Foreman became a minister but made a stunning comeback a decade later. In 1994, at 45, he reclaimed the heavyweight championship by knocking out Michael Moorer, cementing his place in history. He finally retired in 1997.
Beyond boxing, Foreman became a cultural icon, earning millions from the George Foreman Grill, a product that ultimately surpassed his boxing earnings.
His family shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram: “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.”
Tributes poured in from across the sports world. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson praised Foreman’s legacy, saying his “contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.” The Ring magazine called him “one of the greatest heavyweights of all time” and an “icon of the sport forever.”
Born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, Foreman grew up in poverty, raised by a single mother with six siblings in the segregated South. He dropped out of school and got involved in crime before turning his life around through boxing.
Reflecting on his Rumble in the Jungle loss to Ali, Foreman later said it was “the best thing that ever happened to me” because it led him to his true calling—spreading his message through faith and ministry.
