Boxing legend George Foreman dies at 76

Foreman won the world heavyweight championship twice during his decades-long career

Legendary boxer and two-time world heavyweight champion George Foreman has passed away at the age of 76, his family said on Saturday in a post on Instagram. Known as ‘Big George’ in the ring, the American athlete built a long, remarkable career in the sport.

Foreman’s career started with amateur boxing after moving from Texas to California. He retired in 1997 with a career record of 76 wins, 68 by knockouts, and only five losses.

“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,” the family said.

Foreman won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City at the age of 19. Five years later, he won his first world heavyweight championship. He did it again in 1994 when he was 45, making him the oldest heavyweight champion ever.

One of Foreman’s most famous fights was against Muhammad Ali in 1974, which he lost in an eighth-round knockout, and was chronicled in the Oscar-winning documentary ‘When We Were Kings’. After he lost to Ali, the boxing legend fought five more times before he retired to begin a career as an ordained minister in his native Texas. However, he returned to boxing in 1987 at the age of 38.

In 1994, he launched the George Foreman Grill, which went on to sell more than 100 million units worldwide. He sold the commercial rights to the grill for $138 million in 1999.

His final fight took place in November 1997, a majority decision loss to Shannon Briggs. In 2002, Foreman was named one of the 25 greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring magazine, which also ranked him as the ninth-greatest puncher of all time. He was an HBO ringside analyst for 12 years, ending in 2004.