Boxing Legend George Foreman Passes Away at 76
George Foreman, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, Olympic gold medalist, and later ordained minister, has died at the age of 76, his family announced Friday.
Family Announcement of Passing
“Our hearts are broken,” read a statement posted on Foreman’s Instagram account.
“It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the death of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully passed away on March 21, 2025, surrounded by his family,” the announcement stated.
The family did not disclose the cause of death.
Boxing Career Milestones
Known as “Big George,” Foreman achieved early athletic distinction by securing an Olympic gold medal in boxing at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games at the age of 19.
His professional boxing career reached its zenith in 1973 when he claimed the world heavyweight championship, delivering a stunning second-round knockout victory over Joe Frazier. However, he relinquished the title the following year in a bout against Muhammad Ali famously known as the “Rumble in the Jungle.”
Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Foreman staged a successful comeback. At 45, he regained the heavyweight title by defeating Michael Moorer, establishing a record as the oldest boxer to win the coveted championship.
Life Beyond the Ring: Ministry and Entrepreneurship
Foreman transitioned to ministry in 1978, becoming a preacher. He also achieved considerable success as an entrepreneur, most notably with the “George Foreman Grill,” officially named the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine.
According to Foreman’s website, sales of the popular appliance surpassed 100 million units globally, and Foreman became a familiar figure in television commercials promoting the product.
The family’s statement further described him as “a devout minister, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grandfather and great-grandfather,” adding that “he lived a life characterized by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.”
A Journey of Transformation
While humility was cited as a characteristic in his later life, Foreman acknowledged a less virtuous past.
Describing his early life on his website, Foreman recounted his transformation “from thug to boxer.” Born in Marshall, Texas, on January 10, 1949, he was raised in Houston’s Fifth Ward and admitted to bullying and engaging in petty crime during his youth, stating he “became a mugger and brawler.”
Foreman credited the Job Corps program, initiated by President Lyndon B. Johnson, with providing the guidance that steered him away from delinquency and toward a boxing career.
“I have been literally rescued from the gutter. I was out hiding from the police,” Foreman recounted in a 2023 NBC News interview. “The next thing you know, I’m in the Job Corps program getting three meals in one day. They built me into what I’ve become.”