Boxing Legend George Foreman Passes Away At 76

Boxing icon George Foreman, who is widely considered to be among the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport, passed away on Friday at the age of 76.

“Our hearts are broken. 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,” Foreman’s family announced in an Instagram post.

“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose,” the family’s post continued. A cause of death was not provided.

Freeman’s illustrious professional boxing career began in 1967 and continued for three decades before his retirement in 1997. Commonly referred to as “Big George” due to his imposing strength and wind-span, Foreman established a reputation as one of the most fearsome power punches of all-time while racking up 68 knockouts.

At the age of 19, Foreman won an Olympic gold medal before beating boxing legend Joe Frazier at age 24 to become world champion just a few years later.

Foreman only lost by knockout once in his storied career, when he defended his title against Muhammad Ali in the famed “Rumble In The Jungle.” The fight, which is widely considered to be one of the most iconic sporting events of the 20th century, saw Foreman lose his 40-0 record to the sport’s biggest legend. Foreman long stated that he and Ali became lifelong friends after the iconic bout.

The heavyweight  legend staged a comeback in the early 90’sand kept his power well into his later years, as evidenced by a round 10 knockout over Michael Moorer. A labored, then 45-year-old Foreman dropped his opponent with an overhand right just as commentators were essentially writing him off. With the Moorer knockout, Foreman became the oldest boxing champion in the sport’s history at 45.

Foreman and Ali square off in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974

Foreman also enjoyed widespread success as an entrepreneur outside the ring. In 1994, Foreman partnered with Spectrum Brands for a portable, small, heated grill known as the “George Foreman Grill.”

The slanted grill became wildly popular due to the ease with which it could be used and simple cleaning process. Since the product’s introduction, more than 100 million units have been sold.

In 1999, Salton Inc. paid Foreman $138 million in order to buy out the right to use his name. Prior to the Salton deal, Foreman was receiving about 40 percent of the profits for each grill sold, netting him about $4.5 million a month at its peak. It is estimated that Foreman made north of $200 million on the grill, far surpassing his professional boxing earnings.

Tributes and condolences from around the sporting world have poured in following news of Foreman’s passing. “Condolences to George Foreman’s family. His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten,” said fellow boxing legend Mike Tyson, who was supposed to square off against Foreman in 1990 but never got the chance.

“Rest in peace, George Foreman. Your legacy lives on, champ,” NBA legend Scottie Pippen wrote in an X post.

Following his retirement from professional boxing in 1997, Foreman became a preacher after undergoing a religious awakening. He later provided color commentary for HBO as a boxing analyst and in 2023, a biographical film on his life was released.

Foreman had 12 children, including five sons who are all named George Edward Foreman.

“Legendary boxing champion, life-changing preacher, husband, father, grand- and great-grandfather and the best friend you could have,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman posted on X. “His memory is now eternal, may Big George rest in peace.”