A deep sadness has struck boxing fans worldwide in the past few hours. The news, shared by his family through an Instagram post, is spreading rapidly across newspapers and social media, leaving everyone in shock and sorrow: “George Foreman has passed away. Big George has left us.” The phenomenal Texan puncher, considered by experts to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, was 76 years old and passed away in his hometown of Houston, surrounded by his loved ones. To properly honor the gentle giant who gave so much to the Noble Art, today we retrace the key moments of his unforgettable boxing career.
From a Tough Childhood to Olympic Gold
Growing up in a poor family with six siblings, George faced difficulties and frustrations from an early age, both due to financial hardship and the absence of a father figure. He never knew his biological father, while the man whose surname he carried abandoned his mother when George was just five years old. His teenage years were marked by petty crimes, bad company, and frequent street fights, but everything changed when he joined the Job Corps, a work training program. There, he was noticed for his imposing physique and tendency to use his fists, leading him to the world of boxing—a sport that would bring him immense fortune.
His amateur career was short but intense: only 26 fights, 22 victories, and a historic gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. A famous anecdote from that tournament involves Italian boxer Giorgio Bambini, whom Foreman knocked out in the semifinals. According to legend, Bambini’s corner urged him to get up after the decisive knockdown, only for him to reply, “Are you crazy? That guy will kill me.” Although Bambini later categorically denied ever saying this, the fact that so many believed it speaks volumes about Foreman’s reputation as a fearsome destroyer, even back then.
Foreman the Brute: A Trail of Knockouts Leading to World Glory
One of the rare moments when young George genuinely appeared happy on camera was when he won the Olympic gold medal. After knocking out Soviet fighter Ionas Chepulis, Foreman celebrated enthusiastically, waving a small American flag and bouncing around the ring like an excited child. However, his patriotic display drew harsh criticism from the African American community in the U.S., who saw it as inappropriate given the era’s intense social tensions. This backlash hardened Foreman even more, turning him into what some acquaintances later described as “the man who never smiled.”
Unbothered by his lack of popularity, Foreman rapidly climbed the rankings and seized the world title with brute force. The famous and beloved Joe Frazier, considered the best fighter on the planet after his incredible victory over the returning Muhammad Ali, was demolished in just two rounds, suffering six knockdowns. The same fate awaited subsequent challengers Jose Roman and Ken Norton. At that point, Big George truly seemed like an unstoppable machine.
The Rumble in the Jungle: A Crushing Defeat and a Motivational Collapse
Countless pages have been written about Foreman’s legendary downfall in what was then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), where Muhammad Ali’s tactical masterpiece handed him his first shocking and devastating professional defeat. Struggling to accept the result, Foreman fell into deep emotional turmoil.
Years later, a more mature and reflective Foreman admitted: “After that fight, I was bitter and made all kinds of excuses. I said the ropes were loose, the count was too fast, an injury affected my training, I had been drugged. I should have simply said that the better man won—but I had never lost before, and I didn’t know how to lose.”
This bitterness severely impacted his training. Even though he continued to win by knockout, the Foreman of later fights appeared sluggish and uninspired, more vulnerable and static than before. This was particularly evident in his wild and chaotic war against Ron Lyle, a fight so brutal that former Italian boxer Aldo Spoldi remarked: “I’ve knocked out plenty of fighters, but the punches these two exchanged even scared me!”
The Mystical Crisis, Retirement, and Transformation
It was only a matter of time before everything came to a head. As soon as Foreman faced an atypical fighter—one who avoided direct exchanges and forced him into a grueling and frustrating fight—his poor physical condition became glaringly evident. That fighter was the elusive Jimmy Young, who masterfully neutralized Foreman’s half-hearted swings, even managing to drop a tired and overwhelmed Big George in the twelfth and final round.
Back in the locker room, Foreman believed he had experienced a mystical vision—something his team later attributed to hallucinations caused by the suffocating heat and resulting dehydration. He claimed to have seen Christ enter his body to purify him and make him a new man. This revelation led him to retire from boxing and become a minister. The once feared and relentless destroyer who never smiled was now a radically transformed figure, at peace with himself, no longer fighting the world but dedicating his life to doing good.
The Legendary Feat: A Comeback and a World Title Triumph
When George Foreman announced his intention to return to the ring and reclaim the world title after ten years of inactivity, no one took him seriously. Many dismissed it as a mere publicity stunt, a way to raise funds for the youth support center he had founded in Houston. However, the former champion ignored the skeptics. Though he initially faced second-tier opponents, he proved that his devastating power was still intact, knocking them down like bowling pins and gradually earning media attention as a potential title challenger.
Twice, he had the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal. Both times, despite putting up valiant, intense, and admirable performances, he was outpaced by the superior speed and stamina of the reigning champions. First, Evander Holyfield and later Tommy Morrison defeated him on points—but not without difficulty.
Then, in November 1994, the moment arrived. Michael Moorer, who had shocked the world by defeating Holyfield and becoming the new lineal heavyweight champion, granted Foreman—now nearly 46 years old—one last chance to leave boxing in a state of utter disbelief.
For much of the fight, an uninspired Foreman struggled to keep up with the champion’s superior hand speed. But Moorer made a critical mistake—he was too arrogant. Rather than settling for a comfortable points victory, he continued standing in front of the dangerous veteran, engaging in unnecessary exchanges. Little by little, Big George began adjusting, looking for the perfect opening to unleash the most important right hand of his life. And then—BOOM!
In the tenth round, Moorer collapsed to the canvas! The HBO commentators’ stunned cries—“It happened! It happened!”—Foreman, overwhelmed with emotion, kneeling in prayer in the corner, and the ecstatic crowd celebrating the triumph of a man who had won their hearts—all of these moments still send shivers down the spine when watching the footage today.
George Foreman’s life had many more chapters, from his successful business ventures to his work as a boxing commentator. But today, on the day of his passing, we prefer to remember him for what he did between those sixteen ropes. In that magical square that gives so much and takes so much away, after venting his youthful rage and fury, a man transformed in both body and soul found his greatest joy in the love and support of the people.
Rest in peace, Big George!
What e Legend. You will surely be missed, but not forgotton Champ.