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US BOXING LEGEND George Foreman has died at the age of 76, his family announced.
He was two-time world heavyweight champion in a boxing career that spanned over two decades, before he hung up his gloves and saw success as an entrepreneur with his George Foreman Grill line.
A post on his Instagram page said he died peacefully on Friday surrounded by family.
“Our hearts are broken,” the post said.
“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on 21 March 2025 surrounded by loved ones.
“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.
“A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honour the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.”
Tributes began to pour in following the news, with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson saying Foreman’s “contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten”.
Former NBA basketballer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who won five titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, said it was a “pleasure getting to know (Foreman) not only as a boxer but as a man”.
“I was really sad to hear the news that one of my boxing heroes, George Foreman, passing away,” Johnson said.
“I attended so many of George’s championship fights over his career. He was a knockout artist in the ring, and it was a pleasure getting to know him not only as a boxer but as a man.”
Actor John Cusack said: “Beyond a living legend in the ring – just a wonderful spirit – an incredibly kind generous man – in person. I always remember every encounter with great gratitude – it was an honour to know him.”
Charles Barkley, Hall of Fame NBA player, said the loss “just hurts”.
“I got to know Mr. Foreman a little bit, seeing him at all the boxing matches and I always picked his brain about trying to be an entrepreneur when your career is over,” he said.
“It hurts a lot because he was obviously one of the greatest boxers ever, but just a gentle man, was a pastor. This just hurts.”
Irish boxer Barry McGuigan described Foreman as an “immense fighter” with a “remarkable career”.
“He was such a great human being, such a great fighter, and such a humble guy, so decent and understated but honestly, one of the greatest fighters that I’ve ever seen,” he told Newstalk’s Anton Savage Show.
“At 45 years old winning the World Heavyweight title, I don’t think we’ll ever have another heavyweight champion at that age. We’ve lost a colossal in the great George Foreman.”
Foreman was born in Marshall, Texas in 1949 and endured a troubled childhood, responding to local bullies by becoming, by his own admission, a juvenile delinquent who frequently found himself in trouble with the police.
After dropping out of high school at the age of 16, Foreman enrolled for the local job corps, a decision he credits with helping to turn around his life. It was during a session that he caught a glimpse of an Ali fight against Floyd Patterson, and convinced himself he could become a boxer.
Just over a year after winning his first amateur fight, Foreman won the right to represent the United States in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Three straight wins took him through to the gold medal match against Ionas Chepulis, before which Foreman admitted he was “scared”.
He became an Olympic gold medallist that year before claiming his first heavyweight title with a stoppage win over Joe Frazier in 1973.
He lost the belt a year later to Muhammad Ali in the infamous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ bout held in the African nation then known as Zaire.
His second championship came more than two decades later at the age of 45, with a stunning knockout win over Michael Moorer in 1994 making him the oldest heavyweight champion ever.
He retired from the sport in 1997 with a record of 76 wins and just five losses. Sixty-eight of his victories came via knockout.
Foreman found tremendous success in the business world after his retirement, with his popular George Foreman Grill selling in the millions, earning figures which dwarfed his boxing career, and he also evolved into a prominent television celebrity and boxing pundit.
Married five times, Foreman had 12 children, including five boys, all of whom he named George. “I named all my sons George so they would always have something in common,” Foreman said.
“I say to them, if one of us goes up, we all go up. And if one goes down, we all go down together.”
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