Heavyweight Champion George Foreman died at the age of 76, his family announced on Friday.
Foreman died surrounded by loved ones, his family said.
“Our hearts are broken,” the family wrote in an Instagram message. “With deep sorrow we announce the death of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who left peacefully on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.”
George Foreman at the premiere of “Big George Foreman” held in Regal La Live on 26 April 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Mark von Holden/Variety via Getty Images)
“A pious preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father and a proud great and great -grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and goal,” the post continued.
“A humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected-a power for good, a man of discipline, conviction and a protector of his legacy, tireless fighting to keep his good name-for his family,” the post added.
His family said they “are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy while we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call it ours.”
Foreman became an Olympic gold medal winner in 1968 when he defeated the Jonas čepulis of the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games in Mexico City in that year.
But Foreman was best known for his big ticket matches against fellow legendary boxers Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier.
Foreman won the heavyweight title with a stunning second round knockout of the previously undefeated Frazier in 1973. He defended his title twice, but then lost his first professional match to Ali in the iconic match from 1974 called “Rumble in the Jungle.” That competition was fought famous in Kinshasa, Zaire, who is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Foreman then withdrew after a loss for Jimmy Young in 1977, but returned to boxing in 1994 at the age of 45. In his comeback, Foreman won the Unified WBA, IBF and Lineal Heavyweight Championship titles.
After successful attacks in his second Stint, in 46 years and 169 days old, he became the oldest world champion heavyweight in the history of boxing. Foreman is also the oldest boxer ever to win the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship of large awards and the second oldest in every weight class.
He then pulled himself forever in 1997 at the age of 48, with a final record of 76 wins, with 68 via Knock -Out and only 5 losses.
In his career after the framework, Foreman became a successful entrepreneur when he gave a permit to his resemblance to the home apparatus company Salton, Inc., now known as Russell Hobbs Inc., to launch the George Foreman Grill – a portable electric grill that became a common household device.
