Boxing Legend George Foreman Passes Away at 76
George Edward Foreman Sr., a towering figure in boxing and a beloved entrepreneur, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2025, at the age of 76.
The two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist died surrounded by loved ones, his family announced via his official Instagram account. No specific cause of death was provided in the statement.
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Foreman, affectionately known as “Big George,” leaves behind an extraordinary legacy both in and out of the ring. Born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, he rose from a challenging childhood in Houston’s Fifth Ward to become one of the most formidable heavyweights in boxing history.
At just 19, he captured the gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Turning professional in 1969, Foreman claimed the world heavyweight title for the first time in 1973 with a stunning second-round knockout of Joe Frazier. He lost the title in 1974 to Muhammad Ali in the iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” but made history two decades later when, at age 45, he reclaimed the heavyweight crown by defeating Michael Moorer in 1994, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion ever.
Beyond boxing, Foreman reinvented himself as a successful entrepreneur and minister. He became a household name as the pitchman for the George Foreman Grill, a lean grilling machine that sold over 100 million units worldwide. A devout Christian, he also served as an ordained minister at the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Houston, a role he embraced after a transformative religious experience in 1977 that led him to step away from boxing for a decade.
Foreman’s family described him as “a devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather” who lived a life marked by “unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.” He is survived by his wife, Mary Joan Martelly, whom he married in 1985, and 11 of his 12 children: sons George Jr., George III (“Monk”), George IV (“Big Wheel”), George V (“Red”), and George VI (“Little Joey”), and daughters Natalia, Leola, Michi, Georgetta, Isabella, and Courtney.
His daughter, Freeda Foreman, predeceased him in 2019. Foreman famously named all his sons George, once explaining, “If one of us goes up, then we all go up together. And if one goes down, we all go down together!” He also leaves behind numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy,” his family said in their statement. “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.”
