George Foreman, Championship Boxer and Grill Pitchman, Dies at 76
George Foreman has passed away at the age of 76. His family announced the news on his Instagram account, sharing their heartbreak. "Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones," they wrote. Foreman was remembered as a devout preacher, devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather.
Foreman was a two-time heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Nicknamed Big George, he became a popular spokesman for the George Foreman Grill, which sold over 100 million units.
Foreman was born in Texas in 1949 and grew up in Houston's challenging Fifth Ward. He faced significant hardships, dropping out of high school at 15 due to poverty. At 16, he joined the Job Corps, earning his GED while learning carpentry and bricklaying. It was a pivotal time, as he started boxing shortly after.
Foreman ventured into boxing at 17 to lose weight and gain street-fighting skills. "Next thing I know, I was fighting as a Golden Glover," he recalled. In 1968, Foreman won a gold medal at the Mexico City Olympic Games, wanting to represent his roots to the world.
Turning professional in 1969, Foreman had an extraordinary start with 13 wins, followed by 12 in 1970. By December 1971, he boasted 32 wins and no losses, as he prepared to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier.
Their fight in 1973, named The Sunshine Showdown, marked a critical moment in Foreman's career as he won by knockout. Reflecting on this time, Foreman admitted he feared no one except Frazier.
After winning his title, Foreman defended it against José Roman and Ken Norton. In 1974, he faced Muhammad Ali in the famed "Rumble in the Jungle," which became a turning point as Ali surprised everyone and won. Foreman later questioned whether the fight had been fixed, expressing his wish for a rematch. They eventually formed a friendship despite the rivalry.
Foreman retired from boxing in 1977. After a serious near-death experience, he embraced Christianity. In 1987, ten years later, amid financial challenges, he returned to the ring at 38, stating it felt necessary at the time.
He unsuccessfully challenged Evander Holyfield in 1991 and Tommy Morrison in 1993 but rebounded in 1994, achieving victory against Michael Moorer to reclaim the championship. Reflecting on his return, he described the surreal feeling of fighting for the heavyweight title again.
In addition to boxing, Foreman ventured into stardom, appearing in the short-lived sitcom George. He officially retired in 1999 with a record of 76 wins and 5 losses. His grill's success was monumental, as over 100 million units were sold.
Foreman appeared on The Masked Singer in 2022 and executive produced the 2023 biopic Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Throughout his life, Foreman fathered 12 children: Natalia, Leola, Michi, Isabella, Courtney, Georgetta, and Freeda (who passed in 2019), along with five sons named George Edward Foreman. He experienced five marriages, first to Adrienne Calhoun and then to Cynthia Lewis, Sharon Goodson, Andrea Skeete, and finally to Mary Joan Martelly in 1985.
In 2022, allegations of child sexual abuse arose, which he denied.
Earlier, SSP wrote that Drew Barrymore reflected on parenting without a traditional family structure.