Former heavyweight champion George Foreman, who faced Muhammad Ali in the legendary 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” before regaining the title two decades later, passed away on Friday at 76, according to his family.
Affectionately referred to as Big George, Foreman left school as a teenager and eventually became an Olympic gold medalist and a boxing icon. In his professional career, he fought 81 times, achieving 76 victories, with 68 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Beyond his boxing career, he became synonymous with the “George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine,” where he appeared cheerful and approachable in television commercials, gaining fame outside of the boxing ring.
Born in Texas on January 10, 1949, Foreman spent his childhood in Houston. The man who raised him was often absent and frequently intoxicated. Foreman discovered that J. D. Foreman was not his biological father only after he won the world heavyweight championship when his actual father, a decorated World War II veteran, reached out to him.
Foreman dabbled in crime during his teenage years and dropped out of school at 16. At the 1968 Mexico Games, the 19-year-old Foreman fought his way to the gold medal in the super-heavyweight category.
As he celebrated his victory, just days after fellow African Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos made a black power salute following the 200m track final, Foreman waved an American flag in the ring.
Standing at 6-foot-4 (1.93m), “Big George” was bigger and stronger than the leading heavyweights of his era. He was agile on his feet yet fought through the professional ranks to earn a title shot against champion Joe Frazier, whom he defeated in just two rounds.
By the time he faced Ali in his third title defence over 15 rounds in October 1974 in Kinshasa, Foreman had an unbeaten record of 40 professional bouts.
He had decisively ended all but three of those contests and had not yet developed his stamina.
Ali’s “rope-a-dope” strategy wore out the big man, defeating him in eight rounds. This loss damaged Foreman’s intimidating reputation, especially in his perception. His quest for another title shot ended when he was beaten on points by contender Jimmy Young in March 1977 on a sweltering night in Puerto Rico.
Foreman became ill after that fight and claimed he felt God urging him to change his life. He retired at 28 and became an ordained minister.
When he announced his return to boxing a decade later, he was bald, having once had an Afro and now looked flabbier instead of fit, leading many to perceive it as a publicity stunt. He later explained he needed money to support his youth centre.
Over three years, he participated in 21 fights, primarily against lesser opponents, maintaining an unbeaten record, winning 20 by knockout.
Being a prominent figure in a weakened and divided division, he earned a title shot against Evander Holyfield in 1991 and then against Tommy Morrison two years later, losing both on points.
In November 1994, he fought Michael Moorer, who had recently dethroned Holyfield. In the same shorts he wore over 20 years and six days earlier against Ali, Foreman was behind on points when he landed a knockout punch on Moorer in the 10th round.
At the age of 45 years and 299 days, he became the oldest heavyweight world champion.
He was stripped first of his WBA title and then his IBF title for declining to fight designated challengers, yet he won three more bouts and retained the title of “lineal” world champion when he lost on points to Shannon Briggs in 1997 at 48 and subsequently retired again.
Foreman was married four times, fathering ten children and adopting two. He named each of his five sons George Edward, explaining that he wanted them to have a connection.
