It is a sad day for the boxing world, as George Foreman has died at
the age of 76.
On Friday, Foreman’s family posted on social media of his
death. The beloved boxer competed in the sport from 1967 to 1997,
going 22-4 as an amateur while capturing an Olympic Gold Medal at
heavyweight in the 1968 Summer Olympics. Turning professional in
1969, “Big George” built a mighty record of 37-0 with 34 knockouts
to earn a shot at the WBA, WBC and The Ring titles held by Joe
Frazier.
Success continued for Foreman, as he blasted Frazier within two
rounds, and defended that throne twice with knockouts of Jose Roman
and Ken Norton. This led to one of the most iconic matches in the
history of the sweet science, “Rumble in the Jungle” against
Muhammad Ali. The legendary Ali employed his rope-a-dope strategy
to outguile Foreman en route to a stoppage in the eighth round,
flooring “Big George” for the first time during the match. This
match served as one of the most-watched televised live broadcast in
history, with upwards of one billion viewing it at the time.
After some time off, Foreman returned to go on a short run, which
included an NABF belt and another win over the vaunted Joe Frazier.
A decision loss to Jimmy Young in 1977 put Foreman on ice for a
decade, where he became a born-again Christian and was ordained as
a minister in Houston. In 1987, Foreman returned to the ring, and
in the span of three-and-a-half years, defeated 24 consecutive
opponents.
The lengthy win streak, even as he advanced past the age of 40,
placed the all-time great in prime position to challenge for major
titles again. He faced off against Evander Holyfield in the “Battle
of the Ages,” where the two threw down for 12 hard-fought rounds
including an absolutely sensational seventh stanza. The
then-42-year-old came up short to Holyfield on the scorecards, and
a few years later, he again vied for the WBA heavyweight throne as
well as IBF’s.
At the tender age of 45, Foreman set the record as the oldest major
heavyweight champion in boxing history, knocking out Michael Morrer
to pick up a pair of belts. While a match against the far younger
Mike Tyson never materialized, Foreman went on to rattle off a few
more wins before encountering Shannon Briggs in what turned into
his retirement match. The two tangled for 12 tough rounds, and
although the consensus opinion believed Foreman should have earned
the nod, the two judges gave it to Briggs to give him a majority
decision win. This proved to be his last pro bout, saying farewell
to the sport with a record of 76-5 with 68 knockouts on his
ledger.
Following his retirement from boxing, Foreman stayed in shape, and
he licensed a double-sided countertop grill under his name, the
George Foreman Grill. He authored several cookbooks along with the
grill, and penned a children’s book as well as a memoir and a pair
of autobiographies. “Big George” also built a large family, having
five sons and five daughters—with all five boys named George Edward
Foreman Jr., donning them with various nicknames like “Big Wheel”
and “Little Joey.” He also adopted two daughters, Isabella and
Courtney. In his post-boxing life, Foreman led sermons at a church
in his home of Houston.
“Our hearts are broken,” Foreman’s family wrote. “With
profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George
Edwards Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025
surrounded by loved ones. 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.”
They 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, conviction, and a protector of his
legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name—for his
family. 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.”