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George Foreman, one of the legendary heavyweight boxing icons, who stunned the world with a remarkable return and later became famous for his distinctive grill, died on March 21, 2025, at 76. His family relayed the news in a poignant Instagram post, stating that he died peacefully while surrounded by loved ones.
In the ring, the American was known as "Big George" and had a spectacular and enduring career that earned him an Olympic gold in 1968. He claimed the world heavyweight title twice, 21 years apart, the second making him the oldest champion in history at 45. He lost his first title against Muhammad Ali in the famed Rumble in the Jungle battle in 1974. However, Foreman's professional boxing record was amazing, with 76 wins and 68 knockouts, nearly doubling Ali's.
History about George Foreman that made him legend
Born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, Foreman lived a difficult life at the early age. He was raised by a single mother, along with six other siblings. At a young age, he got involved in unfortunate events like street crime. However, his life took a u-turn when the Job Corps program assisted him in leaving that path and transitioning to boxing.
Foreman won his first heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City at the age of 19, before turning professional and winning 37 straight contests. He only lost five fights during his career. He defeated previously undefeated reigning champion Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973, putting him down six times in the opening two rounds.
However, his devastating defeat to Muhammad Ali in the famed 1974 ''Rumble in the Jungle'' drew international attention. Ali's clever ‘rope-a-dope’ approach survived Foreman's tremendous offence, handing him a career-defining loss. He only lost five fights during his career before retiring in 1997.
