Boxing legend George Foreman passed away on Friday at age 76.
The news of Foreman’s passing first broke on his official Instagram account.
“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. 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.
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.
We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.”
In boxing, Forman competed between 1967 and 1997 and was nicknamed “Big George”. He was a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist.
He won a gold medal in the boxing/heavyweight division at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. During the finals, Foreman defeated the Soviet Union’s Jonas Čepulis in the second round after the referee stopped the match.
In 1987, after 10 years of being away from the ring, at age 38, Foreman surprised the boxing world by announcing a comeback. In his autobiography, he wrote the main reason he for his come back was to raise funds for the youth center he had founded and created. The center took most of the money he earned during the first phase of his boxing career.
Foreman held multiple titled, including the WBA, WBC and IBF Heavyweight Championships. To this day, he still holds the record as the oldest man in boxing to win Heavyweight titles. He retired with a record of 76 wins (68 by knockout) and only 5 losses.
After boxing, Foreman dedicated his life for the next decade to God and became an ordained minister, preaching on street corners before becoming the minister of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Houston, TX. As an entrepreneur, he was best known for the George Forman Grill, which became a household name and appliance.
In 2003, Foreman was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife Mary Joan Martelly, whom he married in 1985. She was his fifth wife. He is also survived by his 11 children.
Wrestleview sends its condolences to the family, friends and fans of George Foreman.