George Foreman Died at 76, According to Family in New Post
Former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman passed away at 76 on March 21, according to his family in a new post.
The fighter known for his gregarious personality and vicious right hook, was a two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic Gold Medalist. He later found success in his post-boxing career, pitching the now world-famous countertop grill that is named after him.
The cause of death was not announced by Foreman’s family. “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 Foreman family’s statement read. “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.”
Fellow legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr, sent out his respect and condolences in a new Instagram post. “My condolences go out to George Foreman’s family, what a beautiful family and what a beautiful guy,” he stated. “A guy that made a big impact in the sport of boxing we all love.”
Jones added, “Very difficult to express the feelings after losing such a great person, who not only came back as a great fighter but an even greater person.”
A Look Back at Who George Foreman Was and His Legacy
Born on January 10, 1949, Foreman was the fifth of seven children and spent his childhood in “the toughest neighborhood in Houston,” which he wrote in his 2003 autobiography George Foreman’s Guide to Life: How to Get Up Off the Canvas When Life Knocks You Down. “I didn’t have a lot to look forward to in life. At least, I didn’t think I did. I was hungry all the time. I dropped out of school in the eighth grade. I relied on my size and my fists to make my way.”
At the aforementioned 1968 Mexico City Olympics, at 19, Foreman had already developed when ESPN would call his wrecking ball fists and his second-round victory over Soviet boxer Jonas Cepulis. He went on to win his first heavyweight title at 24 in stunning fashion when he knocked out Joe Frazier in 1973. Foreman received his first professional loss in his most famous fight nicknamed “The Rumble in the Jungle,” against Muhammad Ali in October 1974.
Big George regained the belt in a 1994 fight against Michael Moored at 45, after taking a 10-year hiatus from the sport. During a career change, The Heywood Giant saw success in the 1990s by promoting the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine. The culinary device was a staple on TV infomercials and home-shopping channels and was known for its ridged and slanted cooking surface designed to allow fat to slide off the grill’s surface.
“There’s hardly a single lesson I’ve learned in life that didn’t come the hard way. Everyone in life goes through a hard time, but you can’t let that define who you are,” he wrote in his 2003 book. “What defines you is how you come back from those troubles and what you find in life to smile about.”
The Punching Preacher was forever immortalized in 2003 when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Later, in 2023, a documentary highlighting his career’s achievements was created.
The Big George Foreman documentary streams on Hulu.
