George Foreman, the boxing great, has passed away at the age of 76, as announced by his family. In an Instagram post, they described him as “a humanitarian and champion.” Foreman won the heavyweight title twice and later became famous for selling grills to millions of people. His death marks the end of an era.
George Foreman was born in Texas on January 10, 1949, and grew up in a challenging environment. Raised in Houston by a single mother, he left school at a young age. Street fights marked his early experiences. However, his life turned positive when he joined the Job Corps.
At 16, George Foreman found his passion for boxing, and by 19, he won a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics. His professional career was exceptional, boasting an impressive record of 37 consecutive wins.
George Foreman faced Muhammad Ali in 1974 during the famous “Rumble in the Jungle.” The defeat was hard-hitting, as Ali knocked him out in the eighth round. Foreman later reflected, “I threw everything.” The loss devastated him, and he retired in 1977, eventually becoming a minister. However, at 45, he made a stunning comeback by knocking out Michael Moorer in 1994 to win the title.
George Foreman reminisced over ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in one of his final Instagram posts before his death: ‘Best time of my life’ https://t.co/2mrPwGvBLQ pic.twitter.com/BZUw9Z06fm
— New York Post (@nypost) March 22, 2025
Foreman’s Grill brought him back into the spotlight, and in 1999, Salton Inc. purchased the rights to his name for $137.5 million. In his book By George, he wrote, “I love what I sell.” He has been married five times and settled down with Mary Joan Martelly in 1985. His life includes five sons, each named George, and seven daughters.