|
Listen to article
|
George Foreman, the former heavyweight boxing titan renowned for his showdown with Muhammad Ali in the legendary 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle,” passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, at the age of 76, according to a statement released by his family.
After losing the title to Ali in that historic bout, Foreman staged a remarkable comeback, recapturing the championship two decades later in 1994 by defeating Michael Moorer at age 45, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history. His family shared the news of his death, noting that he departed peacefully surrounded by loved ones, though no specific cause was disclosed.
“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr, who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones,” Foreman’s family said in a statement posted on the boxer’s official Instagram page.
“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.”
Read also: Gov Abiodun To Construct Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring
George Foreman was born on January 10, 1949, in Texas, growing up in Houston under challenging circumstances. The man who raised him, J.D. Foreman, was often absent and struggled with alcoholism, a presence that shaped a turbulent childhood. It wasn’t until after Foreman claimed the world heavyweight title that he learned J.D. was not his biological father—a revelation prompted by contact from his real father, a decorated Second World War veteran.
As a teenager, Foreman veered toward trouble, leaving school at 16 after brushes with petty crime. “At 13, George stood about 6-foot-2, weighed 200 pounds, and ruled the neighborhood like a storm,” his younger brother Roy recalled in a 2024 BBC interview. “When you’re that big, that strong, and convinced you’re above everyone else, you just take what you want.”
At 16, Foreman found his path in boxing. “I had my sights set on football,” he later wrote on his website, “but I tried boxing to prove to my buddies I wasn’t scared. A year and 25 fights later, I was an Olympic gold medalist.” That triumph came at the 1968 Mexico Games, where the 19-year-old battered his way to super-heavyweight gold.
Ten days after Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black Power salute on the track podium, Foreman marked his final victory by waving an American flag in the ring—a gesture that sparked its own conversation.
Standing 6-foot-4 (1.93m), ‘Big George’ towered over the heavyweight elite of his era, blending surprising agility with devastating power. He carved a relentless path through the professional ranks, earning a shot at champion Joe Frazier in 1973. In a stunning display, Foreman dismantled Frazier in just two rounds, seizing the heavyweight crown and cementing his place among boxing’s giants.
