His family announced the death, in a hospital, on his Instagram account.
Roy Foreman, Georges brother, said the cause was not known.
But in 1994, he shocked the world by beating the undefeated Michael Moorer to reclaim the world title.
The three great champions thrilled fans with one classic bout after another.
Foreman was the last living member of the trio.
George Foreman passed away on Friday at the age of 76.
I thought (and wanted) Large to write a tribute to him.
If not him, then I was hoping Rear Ad would pen something.
He is one of the best writers we have here, who sadly, doesn’t write way more.
His tribute blogs are some of the best material that gets posted on this site.
And secondly, and more famously, for being THE television infomercial pitchman.
(They made A+ hot dogs and sneaky really good grilled cheese sandwiches).
So here it is.
He didn’t just dominate opponents in the ring.
He beat their ass.
Evander Holyfield is on the record saying Foreman hit harder than any boxer he’d ever faced.
His aggressive style and punching power immediately threatened anyone standing across from him in the ring.
The famous call from Howard Cosell,Down goes Frazier!
Down goes Frazier!still echoes through sports history.
Foreman wasnt just winning, though.
And adds to the remarkableness of Foreman completely turning his persona around.
He had conquered Frazier and was seen as the indomitable champion.
However, Muhammad Ali arrived back , a man who would completely transform Foreman’s world.
The Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire was the fight of all fights.
Bigger than Tyson Holyfield the rematch.
Bigger than McGregor Mayweather.
Even bigger than Jake Paul vs. the tiktok influencer.
This was the 25-year-old Foreman, at his absolute peak.
There had never been anything so hyped up and heavily promoted before.
It was legitimately aninternationalspectacle.
And it actually delivered on the hype.
What followed was one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
It was the moment that defined both Alis greatness and Foremans resilience.
(The ESPN Classic special “Rumble In The Jungle” is absolutely must watch.)
The loss sent Big George into a period of self reflection and transformation.
But before reaching that point, Foreman was an angry and confused man.
Dying and coming back to life
After the Ali fight, Foremans career took another big hit.
In 1977, he faced another loss to Jimmy Young (above) that would forever change him.
There is a living God and Im proof of it,he told Christian Headlines in a recent interview.
Im still George Foreman.
And I could go home and retire now and die.
That sneaked into my conversation die.
And I couldnt get it out.
All of a sudden, I faced death, and I knew I was about to die.
And I was afraid I really was.
And I started fighting to keep my life in me.
I eventually lost the fight, he continued.
I was gone out of this life.
Above me, under me, all around me was nothing, Foreman explained.
The most sad thoughts that you might even come to mind multiply it.
I was in a dump yard of nothing and sorrowfulness.
I remember thinking there was no hope for me like someone had dropped me out in a sea.
There was no land.
At that moment, Foreman cried out, I still believe theres a God!
Abruptly, a hand reached in and pulled me out of nothing and death.
I was alive [and] breathing in that dressing room, Foreman said.
… [I] fought eight men to get into the shower.
They couldnt stop me.
I started kissing everybody in the dressing room.
I tried to make a break for the door.
They said, George, you dont have clothes on.
They had to hold me down.
I got a second chance to live.
During my boxing career I conquered most of the challenges I faced in the ring.
But the challenge of being genuinely happy was another matter, he shared in a Guidepost article.
However, money didnt him the joy he desperately wanted.
But if you think that that five million made me happy, think again.
Ive been poor with millions of dollars, and Ive been rich when I was broke, Foreman said.
Its not our circumstances that determine our happiness, he added.
Its our attitude toward those circumstances.
Those words dont promise that only good things will happen to you if you love God.
A single storm can sweep through and take it all away.
But if youve got God, youll be okay, he added.
However, when Foreman trained for his comeback, he fought Jimmy Young, a journeyman fighter.
Foreman lost, and in that moment, Foreman realized that life without God left him empty.
Soon after that experience, I called Muhammad and let him know what had happened to me.
I told him I didnt hate him anymore.
In fact, I told him I loved him!
He responded to my kindness, and a true friendship developed between us, Foreman stated.
It doesnt matter what your own worst moment is.
But if you have faith, your own worst moment can become your best.
Adversity is never far from us in this earthly life.
But neither is the help we need in getting through it.
Foreman retired from boxing, and opted to dedicate his life to religion.
He became a preacher and established the George Foreman Youth Center in Houston.
By then, he was far from the man who had dominated in his youth.
Again, truly admirable stuff.
His return was met with tons of skepticism.
But Foreman defied expectations and, in 1994, became the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
At first, Foreman was skeptical.
But after his wife convinced him to try the product, he realized just how effective it was.
What followed was a partnership with Salton, Inc., and the grill became a cultural phenomenon.
Foremans success with the grill transformed him into a beloved figure in American homes.
(It was estimated that Foreman was raking in at least $5 million a month.
Which back in the 90s was no joke and still isn’t by today’s standards.)
George Foreman was a giant, both literally and figuratively, in the annals of boxing history.
Rest in peace Big George.
