George Foreman Sr., Legendary Heavyweight Boxing Champ, Dead at 76

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by George Foreman (@biggeorgeforeman)

It is a sad day for the boxing world, as George Foreman has died at the age of 76.

On Friday, Foreman’s family posted on social media of his death. The beloved boxer competed in the sport from 1967 to 1997, going 22-4 as an amateur while capturing an Olympic Gold Medal at heavyweight in the 1968 Summer Olympics. Turning professional in 1969, “Big George” built a mighty record of 37-0 with 34 knockouts to earn a shot at the WBA, WBC and The Ring titles held by Joe Frazier.

Success continued for Foreman, as he blasted Frazier within two rounds, and defended that throne twice with knockouts of Jose Roman and Ken Norton. This led to one of the most iconic matches in the history of the sweet science, “Rumble in the Jungle” against Muhammad Ali. The legendary Ali employed his rope-a-dope strategy to outguile Foreman en route to a stoppage in the eighth round, flooring “Big George” for the first time during the match. This match served as one of the most-watched televised live broadcast in history, with upwards of one billion viewing it at the time.

After some time off, Foreman returned to go on a short run, which included an NABF belt and another win over the vaunted Joe Frazier. A decision loss to Jimmy Young in 1977 put Foreman on ice for a decade, where he became a born-again Christian and was ordained as a minister in Houston. In 1987, Foreman returned to the ring, and in the span of three-and-a-half years, defeated 24 consecutive opponents.

The lengthy win streak, even as he advanced past the age of 40, placed the all-time great in prime position to challenge for major titles again. He faced off against Evander Holyfield in the “Battle of the Ages,” where the two threw down for 12 hard-fought rounds including an absolutely sensational seventh stanza. The then-42-year-old came up short to Holyfield on the scorecards, and a few years later, he again vied for the WBA heavyweight throne as well as IBF’s.

At the tender age of 45, Foreman set the record as the oldest major heavyweight champion in boxing history, knocking out Michael Morrer to pick up a pair of belts. While a match against the far younger Mike Tyson never materialized, Foreman went on to rattle off a few more wins before encountering Shannon Briggs in what turned into his retirement match. The two tangled for 12 tough rounds, and although the consensus opinion believed Foreman should have earned the nod, the two judges gave it to Briggs to give him a majority decision win. This proved to be his last pro bout, saying farewell to the sport with a record of 76-5 with 68 knockouts on his ledger.

Following his retirement from boxing, Foreman stayed in shape, and he licensed a double-sided countertop grill under his name, the George Foreman Grill. He authored several cookbooks along with the grill, and penned a children’s book as well as a memoir and a pair of autobiographies. “Big George” also built a large family, having five sons and five daughters—with all five boys named George Edward Foreman Jr., donning them with various nicknames like “Big Wheel” and “Little Joey.” He also adopted two daughters, Isabella and Courtney. In his post-boxing life, Foreman led sermons at a church in his home of Houston.

“Our hearts are broken,” Foreman’s family wrote. “With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edwards Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 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.”

They continued, “A humanitarian, an Olympian, and a 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 honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.”