Former heavyweight boxing champion and entrepreneur George Foreman has died at 76, his family confirmed on Friday. Known as “Big George,” he was an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time heavyweight champion, and a successful businessman.
Born in Texas on January 10, 1949, Foreman grew up in a tough Houston neighborhood. His father was often absent, and he later discovered that J.D. Foreman was not his biological father. His real father, a World War II veteran, contacted him only after he won the world heavyweight championship.
Foreman dropped out of school at 16 and engaged in street crime before turning to boxing. He made a name for himself at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, winning gold in the super-heavyweight category. While other African American athletes raised fists in protest, Foreman waved a small American flag, a gesture that sparked controversy at the time.
His professional career was explosive. At 6-foot-4, with immense strength and a powerful punch, he demolished opponents. In 1973, he defeated Joe Frazier in two rounds to win the heavyweight title.
A year later, he faced Muhammad Ali in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa. Despite being the favourite, Foreman fell victim to Ali’s “rope-a-dope” strategy and was knocked out in the eighth round.
That loss shattered his confidence. In 1977, after a tough defeat to Jimmy Young, Foreman claimed he had a near-death experience and felt God calling him to change. He retired at 28 and became a preacher.
Second Half of A Legend
A decade later, he made an unlikely comeback. Now bald and heavier, many dismissed him as a joke. But Foreman stunned critics, knocking out opponents and proving his endurance. In 1991, he lost a title fight to Evander Holyfield but remained determined.
In 1994, at 45, he shocked the world by knocking out Michael Moorer in the 10th round, reclaiming the heavyweight title and becoming the oldest champion in history.
Despite losing his belts due to disputes over mandatory fights, Foreman continued boxing until 1997, retiring at 48 after a close fight with Shannon Briggs.
Outside the ring, he became a household name with the “George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine.” The grill, launched in the 1990s, made him an even bigger financial success than boxing ever did. He also worked as a boxing commentator and motivational speaker.
Foreman was married four times and had twelve children. All five of his sons were named George Edward, a decision he explained as a way to keep them connected.
Foreman’s life was a story of reinvention. From troubled youth to Olympic champion, heavyweight king to preacher, and from grill salesman to media personality, he proved that second chances are possible. His legacy will be remembered in both sports and business history.
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