Boxing Legend George Foreman Dies at 76
George Foreman, the former heavyweight champion who made history by reclaiming the title at age 45, has passed away at 76.
He died on Friday, March 21, 2025.
“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed on 21 March, 2025, surrounded by loved ones,” his family said in an Instagram post.
Foreman’s legacy in boxing is legendary.
A fearsome puncher in his prime, he first captured the heavyweight title in 1973 with a dominant victory over Joe Frazier, knocking him out in just two rounds. However, he lost the belt a year later in the iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” against Muhammad Ali, who used his rope-a-dope strategy to exhaust Foreman before stopping him in the eighth round.
Two decades later, Foreman stunned the world with one of the most improbable comebacks in sports history. In 1994, at age 45, he knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever, solidifying his place among boxing’s greats.
Foreman’s story was about more than just boxing. Born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, he grew up in Houston’s tough Fifth Ward, raised by his single mother alongside six siblings.
According to Reuters, he dropped out of junior high school and became involved in street crime before his life took a turn when he joined the Job Corps, a program under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” initiatives.
“George’s journey from the streets of Fifth Ward to boxing and business success was an inspiration,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. “He never forgot where he came from … Houston will forever be proud to call George Foreman one of our own.”
Through the Job Corps, Foreman discovered boxing, quickly proving to be a natural talent. By age 19, he had won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He then turned professional, winning his first 37 fights before defeating Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, to claim the world heavyweight title.
His 1974 loss to Ali was a defining moment in his career. After taking a year off, he returned to boxing but retired in 1977 following another defeat. He then became an ordained minister, dedicating himself to his faith and community, even founding a youth center in Texas.
In 1987, he shocked the boxing world by announcing a comeback at age 38, despite weighing 315 pounds (143 kg). Against all odds, he worked his way back into contention, losing a title fight to Evander Holyfield in 1991 but continuing his journey. Then, in 1994, he cemented his legendary status by knocking out Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight crown.
Foreman finally retired in 1997, closing out his career with an impressive record of 76 wins and only five losses.
Beyond the ring, he was a devoted family man. Married five times, his longest and final marriage was to Mary Joan Martelly, whom he wed in 1985. Together, they raised a large family, including five sons—all named George—and seven daughters, two of whom were adopted.
The post Boxing Legend George Foreman Dies at 76 appeared first on Kano Times.
