AP.com reports George Edward Foreman Sr., the Olympic gold medalist who became heavyweight boxing champion twice in careers separated by decades, has died at 76, his family announced Friday.
His family announced his death in an Instagram post, describing 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.”
Foreman’s journey took him from the streets of Houston to Olympic glory, from the heights of boxing fame to the pulpit as an ordained minister, and finally to unprecedented success as a businessman whose name became synonymous with the wildly popular George Foreman Grill.
His amateur career culminated at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he won the gold medal in the heavyweight division. Foreman turned professional in 1969 and captured the heavyweight championship in January 1973 by destroying previously undefeated Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, knocking him down six times in two rounds.
His first reign ended abruptly in October 1974, when he lost to Muhammad Ali in the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). After a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman experienced a religious epiphany and retired from boxing to become an ordained minister. He established the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Houston and created a youth center for underprivileged kids.
A decade later, facing financial difficulties, Foreman returned to the ring at age 38. He slowly rebuilt his career and, incredibly, recaptured the heavyweight championship at age 45 by knocking out Michael Moorer in 1994 – becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history. He found greater financial success outside the ring with the George Foreman Grill, introduced in 1994, which reportedly earned him far more than his boxing career.
Foreman’s personal life was as expansive as his professional one. He fathered 12 children, including five sons all named George Edward Foreman.