George Foreman, the former heavyweight champion known for his iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” fight with Muhammad Ali, has passed away at the age of 76. His family shared the news of his death on Friday, March 21, 2025, with a heartfelt statement posted on his official Instagram page. “With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed surrounded by loved ones,” the statement said. “We are deeply 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.”
Born on January 10, 1949, in Texas, Foreman grew up in Houston, raised by a man who was often absent and frequently intoxicated. It wasn’t until after Foreman won the world heavyweight title that he learned his biological father was a decorated World War II veteran. As a teenager, Foreman was drawn to crime and dropped out of school at age 16. His younger brother Roy recalled, “At 13, George was about 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and the terror of the neighborhood.”
At 16, Foreman discovered boxing, initially to impress his friends. Within a year, he was an Olympic gold medalist. At the 1968 Mexico City Games, the 19-year-old Foreman dominated his competition, claiming the super-heavyweight gold. As he celebrated, 10 days after Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in the Black Power salute, Foreman waved an American flag in the ring.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing over 220 pounds, Foreman’s physical strength and size made him a force in the boxing world. He climbed the ranks quickly and earned a title shot against heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, knocking him out in two rounds. However, his most famous fight came in 1974 when he faced Muhammad Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire. Foreman, undefeated in 40 bouts, was beaten in a stunning upset, as Ali’s “rope-a-dope” strategy wore Foreman down. “It was the most embarrassing moment of my life,” Foreman said afterward, reflecting on his devastating loss.
After the defeat, Foreman’s career faltered. He lost a decision to Jimmy Young in 1977, and shortly after, he retired from boxing at the age of 28, citing a spiritual awakening that led him to become an ordained minister.
In 1987, Foreman made a shocking comeback to the ring, sporting a bald head and a softer physique. Initially, many thought it was a gimmick, but he went on to win 20 of 21 bouts, eventually earning a shot at the heavyweight title again. In 1994, at 45 years old, he shocked the boxing world by defeating Michael Moorer for the heavyweight championship, making him the oldest world champion in history at 45 years and 299 days old.
Though he lost his titles in subsequent years, Foreman continued to fight until his final retirement in 1997 at the age of 48. Over the course of his 81-fight career, he won 76 times, with 68 of those victories coming by knockout.
Outside of boxing, Foreman became a household name through his endorsement of the “George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine,” a product that catapulted him into the realm of television and product endorsements. He also hosted a TV program called Bad Dads in 1996.
Foreman’s personal life was as large as his boxing career. He married four times and had 10 children, including two he adopted. He famously named all five of his sons George Edward, explaining that he wanted them to know, “If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, we all go down together.”
George Foreman’s legacy will be remembered not only for his boxing prowess but for his remarkable comeback, his entrepreneurial success, and his deep impact on the lives of those who knew him.
