Bigger than life in more ways than one, George Foreman captivated the hearts and minds of sports fans and found a place on the kitchen counter of many American homes. A two-time heavyweight champion boxing legend, entrepreneur, author and minister, Foreman died Friday at age 76, according to his family and publicist.
“Big George,” as he was adored by family, friends and fans, was best known as a championship boxer. He won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics before beating Joe Frazier in Jamaica to capture his first heavyweight championship as a professional in 1973. The fight, dominated by Foreman, is well known for Howard Cosell’s legendary call: “Down goes Frazier!”
He then fought Muhammad Ali in 1974, a bout infamously dubbed the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire. Foreman suffered the first loss of his career in his 41st fight, dropping the title to Ali via eighth-round knockout. Though Foreman won a rematch against Frazier in 1976, he retired the following year after taking his second defeat at the hands of Jimmy Young.
After 10 years away from the ring, Foreman returned in 1987, at age 38, and went on to win 12 straight fights before falling to Evander Holyfield via unanimous decision in 1991.
Foreman regrouped, though. Three years later in 1994, the 45-year-old Foreman defeated 26-year-old Michael Moorer to capture the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles becoming the oldest man to ever win a world heavyweight championship in boxing. He ultimately relinquished the titles at 46 years, 169 days old before retiring for a second time in 1997 having compiled a 76-5 career record with 68 knockouts.
Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame, many consider Foreman to be one of the 25 best boxers of all-time.
Foreman also served as the spokesman for the George Foreman Grill, which was introduced in 1994 and became a worldwide sensation with a reported 100 million units sold in the first 25 years of its existence.
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