‘Massive’ George Foreman, certainly one of boxing’s most influential and beloved heavyweights, died on Friday. He was 76.
“Our hearts are damaged. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by family members,” Foreman’s household introduced on Instagram. “A religious preacher, a faithful husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and nice grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering religion, humility, and function.”
Capturing an Olympic gold medal in 1968, Foreman went on to develop into a two-time heavyweight boxing champion. He’s maybe greatest remembered for his iconic Rumble within the Jungle conflict in opposition to Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire. To at the present time, it’s nonetheless thought-about by many to be essentially the most iconic battle in historical past.
The battle was later detailed within the Oscar-winning documentary When We Had been Kings.
George Foreman made one of many biggest comebacks in sports activities historical past
Foreman retired from the game when he was 28, a lot to the shock of boxing followers all over the world, to start a profession as an ordained minister in his native Texas. Nevertheless, he returned to the ring a decade later in what stays as one of many biggest comebacks in sports activities historical past.
After padding his file with a handful of straightforward fights, Foreman took heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield to absolutely the restrict in 1991. Sadly, Foreman got here up quick on the scorecards, seemingly ending his goals of turning into a two-time heavyweight champion.
Then 5 fights later, after a loss to Tommy Morrison, Foreman did the unthinkable. Down on the scorecards in opposition to Michael Moorer, Foreman unleashed a two-punch combo within the tenth spherical that planted Moorer on the mat.
At 45 years and 299 days previous, Foreman was as soon as once more a world champion.
After all, many kids of the 90s are in all probability extra acquainted with Foreman’s endeavors outdoors of the boxing ring. Particularly, his well-known George Foreman grill which launched the identical 12 months he beat Moorer.
The favored cooking machine offered an unimaginable 100 million items, permitting Foreman to promote the rights in 1999 for a whopping $138 million.
Following a loss in opposition to Shannon Briggs in November 1997, Foreman retired from the game of boxing as soon as once more. He additionally spent 12 years as a ringside analyst for HBO.
“A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply revered — a power for good, a person of self-discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, combating tirelessly to protect his good title — for his household.”
His household continued … “We’re grateful for the outpouring of affection and prayers, and kindly ask for privateness as we honor the extraordinary lifetime of a person we have been blessed to name our personal.”
Foreman was inducted into the World Boxing Corridor of Fame and the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame. The Ring additionally named him one of many 25 biggest fighters of the previous 80 years.
