George Foreman death : The two-time world heavyweight champion had a remarkable career, highlighted by his legendary bout, the “Rumble in the Jungle,” against Muhammad Ali.
George Foreman passed away at the age of 76.
A two-time heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist, Foreman, affectionately known as “Big George,” later gained fame as the spokesperson for the George Foreman Grill, which sold millions worldwide.
The news of his passing was confirmed on Friday, March 21.
“With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. on March 21, 2025, surrounded by family. A devoted preacher, loving husband, father, and proud grandfather, he lived a life of faith, humility, and purpose,” the statement read.
Born in Texas in 1949, Foreman was raised in Houston’s Fifth Ward, a neighborhood he once described as so violent that “every weekend, someone got killed.” His family struggled financially, and he dropped out of high school at 15, becoming involved in petty crime.
At 16, he joined the Job Corps, where he earned his GED and learned carpentry and bricklaying. It was during this time that he discovered boxing.
“I started boxing at 17 to lose weight and become a better street fighter,” he recalled in 2000. “Before I knew it, I was competing as a Golden Glover. It all happened by accident.”
A Champion’s Journey: From the Ring to Global Fame
At just 19 years old, Foreman claimed a gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. Reflecting on the moment in 2023, he shared, “Winning that gold medal, I wanted the whole world to know where I was from, so I grabbed a small American flag and paraded around the ring.
Representing my country meant more to me than even winning the fights.”
Foreman turned professional the following year, securing victories in all 13 of his fights in 1969 and all 12 in 1970. By the end of 1971, he was undefeated with 32 wins and had become the number-one contender, setting the stage for a showdown with World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier.
Their long-anticipated bout finally took place in 1973’s Sunshine Showdown, where Foreman secured a dominant victory by total knockout. In a 2023 interview, he admitted, “The only fighter I ever feared was Joe Frazier. I even hoped something would happen so I wouldn’t have to face him for the title.”
Foreman later revealed, “That was the happiest time of my life in boxing. I worked so hard to achieve my dream and become heavyweight champion. It was the first and last time I ever felt that way.”
Foreman successfully defended his heavyweight title against José Roman and Ken Norton. In 1974, he took part in the legendary Rumble in the Jungle, a fight widely regarded as one of the most-watched live television events in history. In a shocking upset, the underdog Muhammad Ali defeated Foreman.
Over the years, Foreman shared different perspectives on the fight, at times suggesting it had been rigged in Ali’s favor. He remained frustrated that a rematch never took place.
“For years, I agonized, ‘How could this happen?’” he recalled in 2019. “That night, I lost everything I had ever been. It was the most devastating moment of my athletic career—I didn’t even feel like a man anymore.”
Despite the defeat, Foreman and Ali eventually became friends.
Foreman continued his boxing career but retired in 1977. After his final match, a near-death experience led him to become a born-again Christian.
Boxing Legend George Foreman Passes Away at 76
However, a decade later, facing financial struggles, he made an unexpected return to the ring at 38. “I had done it once, so I figured I could do it again,” he said in a 2023 interview. “Boxing was the only profession I knew—sometimes I wished I had been a golfer; it’s a lot easier than boxing.”
Foreman earned title shots against Evander Holyfield in 1991 and Tommy Morrison in 1993 but fell short in both fights. However, in 1994, he defeated Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight championship.
“When you fight for the heavyweight championship of the world, it feels surreal—like you’re in a dream,” Foreman said in a 2023 interview. “You think, ‘You’ll wake up soon; you don’t belong in the ring with these guys.’ But the second time around, I learned to manage those thoughts. That moment was even more special than my victory over Frazier.”
As his boxing career flourished once again, Foreman embraced the spotlight, making public appearances and even starring in the short-lived sitcom George. In 1999, he officially retired from boxing, closing his career with an impressive record of 76 wins and only five losses.
In 1994, Foreman introduced the George Foreman Grill, which became a massive success, selling over 100 million units worldwide. “My attorney told me, ‘George, you’re making other people rich—why not make yourself wealthy?’” Foreman recalled in a 2003 interview with PEOPLE. That conversation led him to the now-iconic grill.
In 2022, Foreman appeared as a contestant on The Masked Singer. The following year, he served as an executive producer for Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World, a biopic about his life.
Foreman was a devoted father to his five sons, all named George Edward Foreman, and his daughters Natalia, Leola, Michi, Isabella, Courtney, Georgetta, and Freeda, who passed away in 2019.
“I named all my sons George Edward Foreman so they would always share a bond,” Foreman once wrote. “I tell them, ‘If one of us rises, we all rise together. If one falls, we all fall together!’” Two of his grandsons also bear the same name.
Foreman was married five times. His marriages included Adrienne Calhoun (1971–1974), Cynthia Lewis (1977–1979), Sharon Goodson (1981–1982), and Andrea Skeete (1982–1985). In 1985, he married Mary Joan Martelly, with whom he remained.
In 2022, Foreman faced allegations of child sexual abuse, which he denied.
He is survived by his wife and 11 children.
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