Former heavyweight champion George Foreman, best known for his iconic loss to Muhammad Ali in the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” and his remarkable comeback to reclaim the title two decades later, has passed away at the age of 76, his family confirmed on Friday.
Fondly known as “Big George,” Foreman’s story was one of redemption, strength, and resilience. He was a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Throughout his 81-fight career, Foreman won 76 matches, with 68 of those victories coming by knockout. He was a dominant force in the boxing world and became a celebrated figure outside the ring, notably for his successful endorsement of the “George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine.”
Foreman’s family shared the news of his death on Instagram: “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. 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.”
Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum paid tribute to Foreman, calling him “one of the biggest punchers and personalities the sport has ever seen.”
Born in Texas on January 10, 1949, Foreman had a troubled childhood in Houston, where he was raised by a father figure who was often absent. At the age of 16, he dropped out of school and became involved in petty crime, but soon turned to boxing to escape his troubled past. “I tried boxing just to show my friends that I wasn’t afraid,” Foreman later recalled. Within a year, he was an Olympic gold medalist at the 1968 Mexico City Games.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing over 220 pounds, Foreman’s physical prowess was unmatched. He rose to prominence in the professional ranks, earning a title shot against Joe Frazier. In 1973, he won the heavyweight title, demolishing Frazier in just two rounds.
However, it was his 1974 fight against Ali in Kinshasa that would define his career. Undefeated in 40 bouts, Foreman was a heavy favorite to retain his title, but Ali’s famous “rope-a-dope” strategy exhausted Foreman, who was knocked out in the eighth round. The loss was a devastating blow to Foreman’s ego, as he later described it as “the most embarrassing moment of my life.”
After a few more years of frustration in the ring, Foreman retired at 28 and found solace in religion, becoming an ordained minister. A decade later, he made a shocking return to boxing, though at 38, he was significantly older and less fit. Despite this, Foreman won 20 out of 21 matches, reestablishing himself as a serious contender in the heavyweight division.
In 1994, at 45 years old, Foreman made history when he knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight world champion, a title he held until his eventual retirement in 1997 after losing to Shannon Briggs.
Beyond his boxing career, Foreman was a dedicated family man, marrying four times and fathering 10 children, five of whom were named George Edward. He famously said, “If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, we all go down together!”
George Foreman leaves behind an incredible legacy in both boxing and beyond. His contributions to the sport and his larger-than-life personality will never be forgotten.
