The two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, George Foreman, passed away on March 21, 2025, at the age of 76.
His death was confirmed through a verified social media account dedicated to him.
The statement read, “Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed surrounded by loved ones. A devout preacher, devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.”
Foreman’s legacy in boxing is unparalleled. He burst onto the scene with a gold medal victory at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, defeating Soviet boxer Jonas Čepulis.
His celebration,waving a small American flag, stood in contrast to the Black Power salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos days earlier. Reflecting on that moment, he explained:
“When I walked into the Olympic Village, I saw a couple of athletes who looked like me. I went to speak to them, but they couldn’t speak English. For the first time, I realized that the only thing that could identify us was our nation’s colors. I waved the flag so they knew I was American. Everyone started applauding, so I waved it higher.”
Foreman turned professional, winning his first 37 bouts before claiming the heavyweight title in 1973 by defeating Joe Frazier. His dominant performances set up the historic Rumble in the Jungle against Muhammad Ali in 1974.
The bout, held in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), was one of the most iconic fights in boxing history. Ali’s rope-a-dope strategy led to Foreman’s first professional loss.
Years later, Foreman recalled: “I thought this would be the easiest $5 million I was going to pick up. I hit him hard in the third round, and he looked at me as if to say, ‘I’m not gonna take it!’ He hit me with a quick one-two, knocked me down to the canvas, and my whole life changed.”
Following a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman experienced a religious awakening and retired from boxing to become a preacher. A decade later, he returned to the ring, stunning the world in 1994 by reclaiming the heavyweight title at age 45 with a knockout victory over Michael Moorer.
Reflecting on that triumph, he said, “The second time I made a point of believing it. The first time I didn’t believe it. When you fight for the heavyweight championship of the world, it does feel unbelievable, like a dream. You’re going to wake up soon.”
Beyond boxing, Foreman became a successful entrepreneur, best known for his Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, which sold over 100 million units worldwide.
Raised in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Foreman’s journey from a troubled youth to global icon was chronicled in the 2023 biopic Big George Foreman.
He once admitted, “It’s not easy to tell a story about your life when you really spend a lifetime hiding your life.”
Foreman is survived by his wife, Mary Joan, and his children, including five sons named George.
