Nationwide — George Edward Foreman Sr., the two-time heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist who grew to become a beloved family identify via his bestselling George Foreman Grill, has died on the age of 76. His household introduced his passing on March 21, 2025, through his official Instagram web page sharing that he died peacefully surrounded by family members. Remembered not solely as a boxing icon but additionally as a preacher, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Foreman leaves behind a legacy constructed on religion, perseverance, and reinvention.
Born in 1949 in Houston, Texas, Foreman grew up in poverty within the metropolis’s notorious Fifth Ward. He dropped out of college at 15 and have become concerned in crime earlier than becoming a member of the Job Corps at 16, the place he earned his GED and discovered carpentry and bricklaying. It was there he found boxing, initially to shed weight, and shortly discovered himself on a quick monitor to greatness. At 19, he received a gold medal on the 1968 Olympics in Mexico Metropolis, famously waving a small American flag within the ring to precise his satisfaction.
In accordance with Individuals, Foreman turned skilled in 1969 and rapidly rose via the ranks, going undefeated till he fought and defeated Joe Frazier in 1973 to grow to be the heavyweight champion. Nonetheless, one among his most remembered fights got here a yr later in 1974, when he confronted Muhammad Ali within the historic “Rumble within the Jungle” in Zaire (the previous identify of the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Ali’s victory over Foreman grew to become legendary, and though Foreman by no means obtained a rematch, the 2 finally grew to become shut mates. Foreman retired in 1977 after a non secular awakening and have become a born-again Christian.
Going through monetary hardship, Foreman made a comeback in 1987 at age 38. He finally reclaimed the heavyweight title in 1994, defeating Michael Moorer and changing into the oldest heavyweight champion in historical past. His second run in boxing introduced him not solely extra victories however a brand new stage of fame, resulting in media appearances and endorsements. He retired for good in 1999 with a document of 76 wins and solely 5 losses.
Outdoors the ring, Foreman constructed a enterprise empire. He grew to become the face of the George Foreman Grill in 1994, and it went on to promote over 100 million models. He later grew to become a tv persona, appeared on The Masked Singer in 2022, and government produced the 2023 biopic Large George Foreman on Netflix. He additionally shared life classes via public talking and his private web site, GeorgeForeman.com.
Foreman fathered 12 youngsters, together with 5 sons all named George Edward Foreman, a convention he stated symbolized unity amongst them. He was married 4 instances, most lately to Mary Joan Martelly, whom he wed in 1985. Lately, Foreman confronted allegations of previous abuse, which he denied. He’s survived by his spouse, 11 of his youngsters, and quite a few grandchildren.
