Former heavyweight box master George Foreman, known as much for his Gregarious personality as his evil right hook, died Friday. He was 76 years old.
A two-time heavyweight master, he also won gold at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 and then later success in his career after the box and threw the now-omnipresent table top that bears his name.
Foreman’s family announced his death in a post on Instagram.
Retired pro-boxer George Foreman arrives at the world premiere of “Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World” at Regal La Live in Los Angeles, April 26, 2023.
Michael Tran/AFP via Getty Images
“A devoted predicate, a devoted man, a loving father and a proud grand and great -grandfather, he lived a life that was characterized by unwavering belief, humility and purpose,” the statement states. “A humanitarian, an Olympic and two-time heavyweight master in the world, he was deeply respected-a strength to good, a man with discipline, conviction and a protector of his heritage who fought tirelessly to preserve his good name-for his family.”
No cause of death was provided by his family.
George Foreman lands the stance against Lou Savarese during the match in the Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Ringmagasinet via Getty Images, File
Born Jan. 10, 1949, foreman was the fifth of seven Children and Grew Up “In the Toughest Neighborhood in Houston,” He wrote in his book “George Foreman’s Guide to Life: How To Get Up Off The Canvas When Life Knocks You Down,” Which Was Published in 2003. Forward to in Life.
At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, foreman, then 19, had already developed what ESPN would continue to call his “devastating ball bucket” and defeated the Soviet opponent Jonas Cepulis. The referee had to stop the match by the end of the second round.
Foreman won his first heavyweight title of only 24 with a fantastic knockout by the then -born world champion Joe Frazier in 1973.
Invoiced as a rumble in the jungle, forem’s most famous battle ended in his first professional loss to Muhammad Ali in October 1974. He surrendered the heavy weight title in the knockout loss.
But he would regain the belt after a 10-year retirement in a 1994 match against Michael Moorer at 45 years old.
George Foreman demonstrates his barbecue area to help British Heart Foundation at Trafalgar Square, London, England-20.10.06 (Photo by Rune Hellestad/Corbis via Getty Images)
Rune Hellestad – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
In the pivot of the entrepreneur then foreman’s success in the 1990s and promoting “George Foreman Lean Mean Meal reduction of barbecue machine”, a staple of TV info info and home-shopping channels known for its ridden and sloping food surface designed to allow you to slip from the grill.
“There is hardly a single lesson I’ve learned in life that didn’t come the hard way … Everyone in life goes through a hard time once, but you can’t let it define who you are,” he wrote in his 2003 book. “What defines you is how to come back from these problems and what you find in life to smile about.”
