Boxing: George Foreman, Legend of heavy goods vehicles, died at 76 years old

He entered the history of sport despite a defeat. American boxer George Foreman died on Friday at the age of 76, his family announced on Instagram.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved George Edward Foreman SR, who went peacefully on March 21, 2025, surrounded by his relatives,” wrote his family in a press release. “A humanist, an Olympian, a double world champion, he was greatly respected. He was a force of good, a man of discipline, conviction, a protector of his inheritance, who fought tirelessly to preserve his name, for his family, ”she continues.

The confrontation remained as one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing, by its level and its ferocity. He had marked the rebirth of Mohamed Ali, then 32 years old. But the career of “Big George” is not limited to this “Rumble in The Jungle” (“fight in the jungle”), far from it.

At the top of his 91 meter, Foreman, a perfect unknown, was Olympic champion at only 19 years old, sending the Soviet Jonas Cepulis to the 1968 Mexico Olympics final in two rounds. Renowned for his superhuman power, he then became the first time world champion in 1973. In 81 fights over his career, he won 76 victories.

Religion et business

On his X account, another truck star, Mike Tyson, sent his “condolences to the family of George Foreman”. “His contribution to boxing, and beyond, will never be forgotten. »»

The legendary promoter Bob Arum praised him Foreman, “one of the greatest punchers and one of the greatest personalities in sport”, who was “a great friend, for me but also for my whole family, we are devastated. »»

After having multiplied the adventures with women – of which many children will be born, Foreman had hung up the gloves at 28 years old, entering religion, before going up in the rings ten years later.

After two failures for a new title, he had once again become world champion in 1994 at 45 against Michael Moorer, before stopping definitively in 1997 at 48, with 76 successes and 5 defeats.

His third career will be that of a businessman who has made his image grow by associating him with brands, notably Grill, which brought him more than his entire boxer career.