George Foreman has sadly died at the age of 76.
Foreman – a two-time heavyweight boxing champion, Olympic gold medalist, preacher, and entrepreneur whose second act as a smiling grill pitchman turned him into a household name – passed away peacefully on Friday (March 21), surrounded by his family.
His family announced in a statement shared to Foreman’s official Instagram: “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. 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.
“A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.”
“Big George” was a towering figure both in and out of the ring. His boxing résumé alone puts him in the pantheon of greats: 76 wins, 68 of them by knockout, and just five losses.
From the Streets of Texas to Olympic Gold
Born January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, Foreman was raised by a single mother alongside six siblings in the segregated South, per BBC News.
By his own admission, he was a troubled youth, dropping out of school and getting involved in street robberies.
A turning point came at 16 when he joined the Job Corps, where a supervisor encouraged him to channel his aggression into boxing.
Foreman took home gold at the 1986 Olympics. Credit: Rich Clarkson / Rich Clarkson & Associates/ NCAA Photos /Getty Images
Three years later, in just his 25th amateur bout, he stunned the world by winning a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. His opponent in the final: Jonas Cepulis of the Soviet Union.
“When I look back at the fight, all I can remember was how afraid I was,” Foreman later told the BBC. “I didn’t have the confidence that people thought I had… But I was told to jab, jab, jab… The left jab was my number one punch — I still think it was the best punch in boxing.”
The Rise of a Fearsome Powerhouse
Foreman turned pro in 1969 and tore through the heavyweight division with terrifying power.
By 1973, he was undefeated and obliterated champion Joe Frazier in just two rounds in Kingston, Jamaica, knocking him down six times. That win earned him his first world heavyweight title and cemented his reputation as boxing’s most intimidating puncher.
Foreman stares down Frazier. Credit: Bettmann / Getty
But his reign hit a seismic halt in 1974 during one of the most iconic bouts in boxing history: the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Facing Muhammad Ali, Foreman was a heavy favorite. Ali – who was 32 at the time and returning from a forced hiatus – employed a strategy that would become legendary: the “rope-a-dope,” absorbing Foreman’s blows until the younger, more powerful man wore himself out, Sky News reports.
In the eighth round, Ali delivered a stunning knockout, reclaiming his crown.
“Oh, he’s not going to last one round,” Foreman remembered experts predicting. That night, he said, was the “most comfortable” he ever felt in a ring — despite being outmatched by Ali.
Foreman was bested by Ali in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. Credit: Bettmann / Getty
The loss devastated Foreman. After a second career defeat in 1977 and what he later described as a near-death experience in the locker room, he retired abruptly. That night, he would later say, changed his life forever.
A Spiritual Rebirth and the Greatest Comeback in Boxing
Foreman returned to Texas, became a born-again Christian, and was ordained as a minister.
He founded the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and later the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston. “We began meeting informally at various homes in Houston,” he recalled on his website. “Eventually, we bought a piece of land and an old, dilapidated building.”
After a decade out of the ring, Foreman shocked the world again in 1987 when he returned — not for glory, but to raise funds for his youth center.
Gone was the sullen brawler of the ’70s; in his place was a smiling, charismatic veteran. He racked up 24 more wins, including a gutsy 12-round battle with Evander Holyfield in 1991.
Foreman and Holyfield in 1991. Credit: The Ring Magazine via Getty Images
But the real fairy tale came in 1994. At age 45, wearing the same red trunks he wore against Ali, Foreman stepped into the ring against 26-year-old undefeated champ Michael Moorer in Las Vegas. Down on all scorecards, Foreman unleashed a thunderous right hand in the 10th round that flattened Moorer. The referee counted him out. Foreman, now the oldest heavyweight champion in history, calmly dropped to his knees in prayer.
From the Ring to the Kitchen: A New Kind of Knockout
Foreman retired for good in 1997. His final record stood at 76-5, with 68 knockouts. But even outside the ring, his star continued to rise. In the 1990s, Foreman lent his name—and his infectious smile—to a line of electric grills.
The George Foreman Grill became a pop culture sensation, with more than 100 million sold worldwide.
Foreman became a fixture on television, known for his warmth and charm. His catchphrase, “It’s the Lean, Mean, Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine,” was etched into the American consciousness.
The Hustle reports that Foreman made around $40,500,000 in profit from the incredible popularity of the grilling machine.
Legacy and Family
Foreman’s personal life was just as full.
Married five times, he fathered 12 children, including five sons — all named George Edward Foreman. He once explained the decision with humor and solidarity, per Men’s Journal: “I say to them, ‘If one of us goes up, then we all go up together. And if one goes down, we all go down together!’”
Among his other ventures, Foreman also had roles in film and television, and in 2023, his life story was told in the biopic Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Tributes poured in across the sports world. Fellow heavyweight legend Mike Tyson posted on X: “His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.”
NBA star Scottie Pippen added: “Rest in peace, George Foreman. Your legacy lives on, champ”.
Our thoughts go out to Foreman’s family, friends, and fans at this time.
