George Foreman, the former heavyweight boxing champion known for his extraordinary career and larger-than-life personality, died at the age of 76, as confirmed by his family.
"An Olympian, humanitarian, and two-time world heavyweight champion, he was deeply admired—a true force for good, embodying discipline and conviction. He fought tirelessly to uphold his legacy and protect his name for his family," the family wrote in an Instagram post. Foreman, renowned for his powerful punches, lost his first title to Muhammad Ali during the iconic "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974. However, when he reclaimed the heavyweight title two decades later by knocking out Michael Moorer, he had transformed into a more jovial and rotund figure, affectionately known as "Big George." After his boxing career, Foreman became a celebrated product pitchman, especially known for promoting electric grills, which made him an inspirational figure of success and self-improvement for many in the Baby Boomer generation. Born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, Foreman's family moved to Houston, where he grew up with six siblings under the care of a single mother. Experiencing a difficult childhood in the segregated South, he dropped out of junior high school and turned to street crime, utilizing his size and strength. Foreman credited the Job Corps, part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" initiatives, for helping him turn his life around.
At 16, he left Texas to channel his anger and physicality into boxing. Foreman won the heavyweight boxing gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, achieving remarkable success in his professional career, which included a streak of 37 consecutive victories. He faced Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, winning by technical knockout in the second round to claim the championship. He defended his title multiple times before his historic clash with Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Ali, stripped of his title for refusing the Vietnam draft, entered the fight as a significant underdog but managed to outlast Foreman, ultimately winning by knockout in the eighth round. "I was a powerful punching heavyweight fighter," Foreman reflected to Reuters in 2007. "I delivered everything I had, and nothing worked during that fight." The loss to Ali hit Foreman hard, leading him to take a year off before returning to the sport. After suffering another defeat, he retired in 1977 to become an ordained minister. A decade later, Foreman made a stunning comeback at the age of 315 lbs (143 kg) to raise funds for a youth center he established in Texas. He went on to win 24 consecutive fights, gradually losing weight, before facing Evander Holyfield in a 12-round decision in 1991. Three years later, he became the oldest heavyweight champion in history at age 45 when he knocked out Moorer. Foreman fought his last match in 1997, concluding his professional career with an impressive record of 76 wins and 5 losses. In his personal life, Foreman was married four times before marrying Mary Joan Martelly in 1985, and they remained together until his passing. He was the father of five sons, all named George, along with five biological daughters and two adopted daughters. After retiring from boxing, Foreman became a successful pitchman, particularly for a popular electric grill from Salton Inc. In 1999, he and his partners received $137.5 million for licensing his name for the grill and associated products. "What I do is fall in love with every product I sell," Foreman stated in his autobiography, "By George." "That's what sells, just like with preaching."
Source @Ctv
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