George Foreman dead at 76: Former heavyweight champion who fought ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ passes away | Boxing News

File photo of former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman during the Sports Illustrated Legacy Awards in 2015. (AP)

Former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman passed away at age 76 on Friday, as announced by his family.
Foreman’s family shared the news through a statement on his official Instagram page, confirming his peaceful departure on March 21, 2025, while surrounded by his loved ones.
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“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 honour the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.”
Foreman was born in Texas on January 10, 1949, and grew up in Houston with J.D. Foreman, who was often absent and struggled with alcohol. He later discovered that J.D. was not his biological father when his real father, a decorated World War II veteran, contacted him after his heavyweight title victory.
His teenage years were marked by trouble, leading him to drop out of school at 16.

“At 13-years-old, George was about 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and the terrorist in the neighbourhood. And when you’re bigger and stronger and think you’re better than everyone else, you take things,” his younger brother Roy told the BBC in 2024.
He began boxing at age 16, which would change the course of his life.
“I wanted to a football player. I tried boxing just to show my friends that I wasn’t afraid. Well, 25 fights and one year later, I was an Olympic gold medallist.”
At the 1968 Mexico Olympics, 19-year-old Foreman won the super-heavyweight gold medal. He celebrated by waving an American flag in the ring, just days after fellow African Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos made their black power salute.

Standing at 6-foot-4, Foreman dominated the heavyweight division with his size and strength. He earned a title shot against Joe Frazier and won convincingly in two rounds.
By the time he faced Muhammad Ali in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” in October 1974, Foreman had an undefeated record of 40 fights. He lost to Ali in eight rounds, largely due to Ali’s “rope-a-dope” strategy.

“I just couldn’t believe I’d lost the world title. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life. It went from pride to pity. That’s devastating.”
After losing to Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico in March 1977, Foreman experienced a religious awakening and retired at age 28 to become an ordained minister.
He returned to boxing ten years later, fighting 21 times and winning all bouts, with 20 knockouts. He secured title shots against Evander Holyfield in 1991 and Tommy Morrison in 1993, losing both on points.
In November 1994, wearing the same shorts from his Ali fight, Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round to become the oldest heavyweight world champion at 45 years and 299 days.
He later lost his WBA and IBF titles for refusing mandatory defences. His final fight was a points loss to Shannon Briggs in 1997 at age 48.
Foreman’s professional record stood at 76 wins from 81 fights, with 68 victories by knockout.
After boxing, he found success with the “George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine” and hosted a TV show called “Bad Dads” in 1996.
His personal life included four marriages and twelve children, with ten biological and two adopted. He named all five of his sons George Edward.
“If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, we all go down together!”