George Foreman, renowned for being a two-time heavyweight boxing champion and successful entrepreneur, has passed away at the age of 76. His death occurred on March 21, with loved ones by his side, as announced in a post on his Instagram account. The post described him as “a devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather,” highlighting his life of unwavering faith, humility, and purpose. Foreman was notably recognized as a highly respected figure, a force for good, and a man committed to preserving his legacy for his family.
George Edward Foreman was born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas. During his youth, he was described as a “rebellious teen,” involved in bullying, mugging, and brawling by the age of 15. These activities preceded his involvement in boxing, which he discovered while participating in the Job Corps, a vocational training program for disadvantaged youth. At the age of 19, Foreman captured a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and transitioned to professional boxing the following year.
Foreman’s career reached a high point in 1973 when he claimed his first heavyweight champion title after knocking out Joe Frazier in two rounds. However, the subsequent year, he faced defeat by Muhammad Ali in the “Rumble in the Jungle,” where Ali employed the famous “rope-a-dope” strategy to secure an eighth-round knockout victory in Kinshasa, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Foreman eventually retired in 1977 after a match with Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico. Following this bout, he experienced a profound religious awakening, leading him to become an ordained minister.
In his autobiography, “By George: The Autobiography of George Foreman,” he recounts using his retirement funds to establish a charitable foundation, which founded the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston. Foreman’s career saw a remarkable resurgence a decade after his initial retirement, culminating in one of sports’ most notable comebacks. In November 1994, close to his 46th birthday, Foreman regained the heavyweight title by defeating Michael Moorer, thus becoming the oldest person to achieve such a feat. He retired for the second time in 1997.
Foreman had five sons and seven daughters, sharing on his website that he named all his sons George Edward Foreman to create a common bond. His talent for selling emerged during his comeback, as recounted in a 2004 Bloomberg Businessweek feature. While fighting in lesser-known matches, Foreman was asked to record a promotional segment for a TV station, an endeavor that led to a sold-out event.
By the late 1990s, Foreman had become a prominent figure through infomercials for the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine, with over 100 million units sold globally and earning him more than $200 million. Despite not inventing the grill, he became synonymous with it due to his marketing prowess. In 2002, he recalled a humorous encounter with preschoolers who identified him as the “cooking man” rather than the boxing champion.
Tributes to Foreman have flowed in from various athletes, with boxer Mike Tyson and basketball player Scottie Pippen among those honoring his legacy. Tyson remarked on Twitter, “His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.”
This information was initially reported on Fortune.com.
