George Foreman, one of many biggest heavyweight boxers of all time and a profitable enterprise chief, has handed away. He was 76.
Foreman’s passing was confirmed on his Instagram account on Friday, March twenty first.
“Our hearts are damaged. 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 assertion learn.
“A religious preacher, a loyal husband, a loving father and a proud grand and nice grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering religion, humility and function,” the assertion concluded.
Born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, his dad and mom have been Nancy Ree (Nelson) Foreman and J.D. Foreman, a railroad building employee. Later in life, he realized that his organic father was a person named Leroy Moorehead.
As a youngster, he was the native bully and dedicated small crimes. When he dropped out of college, he joined the Job Corps at 16. His life modified when he took up boxing at age 17.
Only a yr and a half later, he was preventing on the Mexico Metropolis Olympics in 1968, successful a gold medal by defeating Ionas Chepulis of the Soviet Union by a second-round knockout. On the similar Olympics the place Tommie Smith and John Carlos famously protested throughout the singing of the nationwide anthem with clenched fists raised, Foreman was seen waving a small American flag throughout his victory celebration within the ring.
“I used to be simply glad to be an American,” Foreman mentioned afterward. “Some folks have tried to make one thing of it, calling me an Uncle Tom, however I’m not. I simply consider folks ought to reside collectively in peace.”
After turning professional in 1969, he grew to become a devastating drive worldwide, typically preventing 12 instances in a calendar yr. Thought to be one of many hardest punchers within the sport, he compiled a document of 37-0 and earned a shot at a world heavyweight title towards Joe Frazier in 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica.
Billed the “Sunshine Showdown,” Foreman was a 3-1 underdog however dominated all through the two-round bout on his solution to turning into the undisputed heavyweight champion. He knocked him down six instances earlier than the competition was stopped. Howard Cosell, who known as the struggle, famously captured each knockdown by saying, “Down goes Frazier!”
Foreman would go on to carry the title for nearly two years, defending it twice earlier than going through one other boxing icon, Muhammad Ali, in a basic struggle, “The Rumble within the Jungle.” Held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), on October 30, 1974, Foreman, a heavy favourite, was knocked out by Ali within the eighth spherical.
The loss had a devastating affect on Foreman. He had 5 extra wins, together with one other one over Frazier, however retired in 1977 after shedding to Jimmy Younger.
Whereas in retirement, he grew to become a Christian minister in Houston and began to work at a youth heart.
However in 1987, he launched one of the inconceivable comebacks within the historical past of sports activities by returning to the ring at 38 years previous “I need to be champion once more,” he mentioned on the time. “I’ve received a three-year plan. I need to begin on the backside. Prepare more durable than any man on the planet. Struggle as soon as a month.”
Foreman additionally admitted that cash was the driving drive behind his comeback.
“ that story about how you’ve 4 pockets in your pants, and also you higher save what’s in a single pocket so you’ll be able to reside?” he mentioned. “I saved one pocket. I’ve received cash for steak and potatoes. However the different three pockets I simply blew.”
Foreman gained 24 straight fights at age 42 and fought Evander Holyfield for the heavyweight championship in 1991. Foreman misplaced within the unanimous determination.
Foreman’s comeback was full when he took on champion Michael Moorer in 1994. After taking a beating for many of the struggle, Foreman knocked out Moorer within the tenth spherical in Las Vegas. He grew to become the second two-time champion and the oldest champ at 45-years-old carrying the identical trunks he wore the evening he fought Ali in 1974. In his closing struggle, he misplaced to Shannon Briggs at age 48 in 1997.
As profitable as he was within the ring, he additionally served as a boxing analyst for HBO and was inducted into the Boxing Corridor of Fame in 2003. Foreman proved to be much more profitable as a businessman. Throughout his comeback, he was approached by Salton, Inc. (previously Russell Hobbs, Inc.) to be a spokesperson for its fat-reducing grill. He struck a deal to be paid about 40% of the earnings on every grill bought, incomes him $4.5 million a month at its peak. In 1999, he was paid $138 million for the naming rights.
As of in the present day, the George Foreman Grill has bought greater than 100 million models and is remembered fondly in households throughout America for the culinary instrument’s comfort and huge utilization.
In 2023, Massive George Foreman, a biopic about his life, was launched. Foreman was performed by Khris Davis. The George Tillman Jr. directed movie additionally stars Jasmine Mathews, John Magaro, Sullivan Jones, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Sonja Sohn and Forest Whitaker.
Foreman is survived by his spouse, Mary Joan Martelly, whom he married in 1985. He was married on 4 different events. He’s additionally survived by his six daughters: Natalia, Leola, Michi, Georgetta, Isabella and Courtney Foreman; his sons, who’re all named George, and his brother Roy Foreman.
He was predeceased by one other daughter, Freeda Foreman, who died in 2019.
We at EBONY lengthen our deepest condolences and prayers to the household and pals of George Foreman.
