Foreman received the world heavyweight championship twice throughout his decades-long profession
Legendary boxer and two-time world heavyweight champion George Foreman has handed away on the age of 76, his household mentioned on Saturday in a publish on Instagram. Often called ‘Massive George’ within the ring, the American athlete constructed an extended, outstanding profession within the sport.
Foreman’s profession began with novice boxing after transferring from Texas to California. He retired in 1997 with a profession file of 76 wins, 68 by knockouts, and solely 5 losses.
“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr, who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by family members,” the household mentioned.
Foreman received the heavyweight gold medal on the 1968 Olympics in Mexico Metropolis on the age of 19. 5 years later, he received his first world heavyweight championship. He did it once more in 1994 when he was 45, making him the oldest heavyweight champion ever.
Considered one of Foreman’s most well-known fights was towards Muhammad Ali in 1974, which he misplaced in an eighth-round knockout, and was chronicled within the Oscar-winning documentary ‘When We Had been Kings’. After he misplaced to Ali, the boxing legend fought 5 extra instances earlier than he retired to start a profession as an ordained minister in his native Texas. Nonetheless, he returned to boxing in 1987 on the age of 38.
In 1994, he launched the George Foreman Grill, which went on to promote greater than 100 million items worldwide. He offered the business rights to the grill for $138 million in 1999.
His last struggle occurred in November 1997, a majority determination loss to Shannon Briggs. In 2002, Foreman was named one of many 25 best fighters of the previous 80 years by The Ring journal, which additionally ranked him because the ninth-greatest puncher of all time. He was an HBO ringside analyst for 12 years, ending in 2004.
