LOS ANGELES — George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who misplaced the “Rumble within the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali earlier than his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a profitable businessman, died Friday evening. He was 76.
Foreman’s household introduced his dying on social media.
“A religious preacher, a faithful husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering religion, humility and objective,” his household wrote.
A local Texan, Foreman started his boxing profession as an Olympic gold medalist who impressed concern as he climbed to the height of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated solely a 12 months later when Ali pulled off one of the vital audacious victories in boxing historical past in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into dropping his belt in one of many best fights ever staged.
Foreman left the game a number of years later, however returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described non secular awakening.
He then pulled off one of the vital spectacular knockouts in boxing historical past in 1994, flooring Michael Moorer – 19 years his junior – with one excellent mixture to assert Moorer’s two heavyweight belts.
Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational determine was full, and he fought solely 4 extra instances earlier than shifting onto his subsequent profession as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.
He was greatest often called the face of the George Foreman Grill, a rudimentary cooking machine which bought greater than 100 million models and made him a lot wealthier than his sport ever did.
Copyright © 2025 by The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.
