Former heavyweight champion George Foreman has died in Houston at the age of 76 on Friday night.
On Instagram, his family broke the news of his death, which happened in a hospital. Roy Foreman, George’s brother, shared that they are still unsure of the cause.
“Our hearts are broken. A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.” Roy posted.
“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, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name – for his family.” Roy added.
Mike Tyson took to social media to express his deep emotions in a touching tribute.
“Condolences to George Foreman’s family. His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.” Tyson wrote.
Foreman was a two-time world heavyweight champion and even snagged an Olympic gold medal in Mexico City back in 1968.
His journey is a testament to what it means to have a second act in sports, as he made an incredible comeback to capture the heavyweight title after stepping away for first time.
Foreman was involved in two of boxing’s greatest moments, stepping into the ring with Joe Frazier for “The Fight of the Century” in 1971, and then taking on Muhammad Ali in the historic “Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974.
With his fearsome, powerful punches, Foreman did lose his first title against Ali. However, he made a stunning comeback, knocking out Michael Moorer to win back his championship two decades after that initial defeat.
Foreman agreed to endorse a grill that quickly became a bestseller before stepping away from boxing in 1997. This decision turned out to be incredibly lucrative, bringing him in more money than his entire boxing career.
