George Foreman, the renowned former world heavyweight boxing champion, has passed away at the age of 76 after a distinguished career that spanned being an athlete, pastor, and businessman.
In a statement released on Saturday morning, Foreman’s family informed on Instagram that the boxing icon had passed away surrounded by loved ones the previous night.
“A dedicated preacher, a loving husband and father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life distinguished by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose,” the family’s statement reads.
“A humanitarian, an Olympian, and a two-time world champion, he earned profound respect. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, he tirelessly fought to safeguard his legacy for his family,” it continued.
Born in Marshall, Texas, in 1949, Foreman’s family relocated to Houston. He grew up in poverty in the segregated South, where he dropped out of junior high school. At the age of 16, after joining the Job Corps, part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” initiatives, he was urged to channel his aggression and physical stature into boxing.
At age 19, after winning his 25th amateur fight, Foreman won the heavyweight boxing gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Turning professional afterwards, he claimed his first heavyweight title in 1973 against then-champion Joe Frazier.

However, his success suffered a setback when he lost his title to Muhammad Ali in their iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” bout in 1974. The loss was devastating for Foreman, who took a hiatus before returning to the ring, only to retire in 1977 to become an ordained minister.
A decade later, Foreman returned to boxing to raise funds for a youth center he founded in Texas, where he enjoyed a 24-match winning streak before losing to Evander Holyfield in 1991.
In 1994, at age 45, he dethroned the undefeated Michael Moorer, becoming the oldest-ever heavyweight titleholder. Foreman concluded his career in 1997 with a record of 76 wins and five losses.
Outside of boxing, Foreman is best remembered as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which he promoted starting in 1994, shortly after winning his second heavyweight title. The grill sold over 100 million units, earning him more than his entire boxing career.
Foreman leaves behind five sons, all named George, five biological daughters, and two adopted daughters.