Big" George Foreman, one of the most iconic and influential boxers in History.

Big" George Foreman

 "Big" George Foreman, one of the most iconic and influential boxers in history, passed away on Friday at the age of 76, his family announced on social media.

Foreman’s legendary career began with an Olympic gold medal win in 1968, and he went on to become a two-time heavyweight champion and Hall of Fame inductee. He is perhaps best remembered for his role in the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" against Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire. In a stunning upset, Foreman was knocked out in the eighth round—a moment that remains one of the most famous in boxing history. The fight was later immortalized in the Oscar-winning documentary When We Were Kings.

Foreman continued to make history throughout his career. Following his loss to Ali at age 25, he fought five more times, securing notable victories such as a fifth-round TKO over Joe Frazier—whom he had originally defeated in two rounds to claim the heavyweight title—and a dramatic knockout of Ron Lyle in a classic slugfest.

At the age of 28, Foreman made a shocking decision to retire from boxing. He then embarked on a new journey, becoming an ordained minister in his home state of Texas.

After a decade-long retirement, George Foreman made a stunning return to boxing in 1987 at the age of 38, launching what is widely considered one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.

Initially, Foreman padded his record with routine victories, including a second-round knockout of Gerry Cooney. However, in 1991, he proved his comeback was no fluke, pushing the legendary Evander Holyfield to the limit in a classic heavyweight title fight at age 42. Though he fell short of reclaiming the championship, Foreman remained undeterred.

Five fights later, following a loss to Tommy Morrison, Foreman achieved the unimaginable.

Trailing on the scorecards in a 1994 title bout, he unleashed a perfectly timed two-punch combination that floored Michael Moorer for the full count. At 45 years and 299 days old, Foreman reclaimed the heavyweight championship, becoming the oldest man ever to win boxing’s most prestigious title—a record that stood for two decades.

"It happened," HBO’s Jim Lampley famously exclaimed on the broadcast. "It happened!"

Beyond the ring, Foreman thrived in new ventures. He joined HBO as a boxing analyst alongside Lampley, a role he held for 12 years until 2004. However, his biggest success outside of boxing came in 1994 when he launched the George Foreman Grill. The product became a global phenomenon, selling over 100 million units. In 1999, Foreman sold the commercial rights to the grill for a staggering $138 million.

Foreman’s final fight took place in November 1997, a majority decision loss to Shannon Briggs.

Recognized as one of the sport’s all-time greats, The Ring ranked him the ninth-greatest puncher in history and, in 2002, named him among the top 25 boxers of the past 80 years.

Top Rank honored Foreman in a statement, calling him “one of the biggest punchers and personalities the sport has ever seen.” Chairman Bob Arum added, “George was a great friend to not only myself but to my entire family. We've lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.”

Lampley echoed the sentiment, calling Foreman’s passing “a massive loss.”

"Tonight, I am flooded with tears after learning of the death of my dear friend and broadcast partner George Foreman. I loved him," Lampley said in a statement. "He was a great fighter and an even greater human being. Every extraordinary blessing he received was well deserved. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and congregation."

Rumble in the Jungle

It’s difficult to overstate the significance of the Rumble in the Jungle. If boxing’s greatest fights were immortalized as statues in a grand hall, the legendary battles between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier would stand at its center.

This was a fight that embodied everything about boxing—the beauty and the brutality.

Staged in Zaire on October 30, 1974, the bout was backed by the country’s oppressive dictatorship and scheduled for 4:00 a.m. local time to ensure a global audience of 50 million. In the UK alone, an estimated 26 million people—nearly half the population—tuned in.

Ali, cast as the charismatic underdog, stood in stark contrast to Foreman, portrayed as the unstoppable, menacing champion. Most expected Foreman to demolish Ali. Instead, Ali executed one of the sport’s most masterful strategies. Absorbing punishment for seven rounds, he introduced his now-famous "rope-a-dope" tactic, allowing Foreman to exhaust himself.

Then, in the eighth round, Ali struck. A perfectly timed combination sent Foreman to the canvas, and the referee counted him out. The world had just witnessed one of the greatest upsets in heavyweight history.

Foreman, who had never lost in 40 previous fights, was devastated.

"From pride to pity, that was devastating," he later admitted.

In the aftermath, Foreman blamed everything from loosened ropes to possible poisoning by his own trainer. He lobbied for a rematch, but it never materialized. Yet, despite the loss and lingering bitterness, time transformed his rivalry with Ali into a deep friendship.

In 1996, when Ali—by then battling Parkinson’s—was honored at the Academy Awards for When We Were Kings, the documentary chronicling their legendary fight, Foreman was there to help him climb the steps.

Boxing promoter Frank Warren later reflected on Foreman’s legacy:

"He was part of that holy trinity of heavyweight boxing—Ali, Foreman, and Frazier. The great fights they had weren’t just significant moments in boxing, but in world sport."

Frazier Rematch & First Retirement

At 27, Foreman returned to the ring for a second bout with Joe Frazier. Both fighters earned $1 million for the fight.

On June 15, 1976, Foreman once again overwhelmed Frazier, stopping him in the fifth round. Commentator Howard Cosell summed up the performance with characteristic flair:

"George Foreman: Too big. Too strong. In perfect shape. The punches crisp from the very beginning."

Though Foreman seemed to be back on top, just three fights later, he suffered an unexpected loss to Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico. It was a sluggish performance, but what happened afterward would change Foreman’s life forever.

Struggling with exhaustion and heatstroke in the dressing room, Foreman later described experiencing a near-death moment—one that led him to a profound spiritual awakening.

At that moment, Foreman became a devout believer in God.

At just 28, he shocked the world by retiring from boxing, choosing instead to become an ordained minister.