George Foreman, an Olympic gold medallist and heavy weight champion, was one of the great second acts in sports
George Foreman walks to his corner after knocking out Scott LeDoux during the fight at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, New York, in August 1976. Foreman won by a TKO. Photograph: The Ring Magazine via Getty Images
Foreman was an Olympic gold medallist in 1968 before claiming his first heavyweight title with a stoppage win over Joe Frazier in 1973.
He lost the belt a year later to Muhammad Ali in the “Rumble In the Jungle” bout held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then known as Zaire. His second championship came more than two decades later at the age of 45, with a stunning knockout win over Michael Moorer in 1994 making him the oldest heavyweight champion ever.
He retired from the sport in 1997 with a record of 76 wins – 68 by knockout – and just five losses. Foreman found tremendous success in the business world after his retirement, with his popular George Foreman Grill selling in the millions. – PA
George Foreman at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Photograph: Bettmann
George Foreman fighting Ionas Chepulis of Russia during their heavyweight final bout at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. Foreman won when the referee stopped the fight in the second round. Photograph: Bettmann
George Foreman at a press conference in London, March 1973. Photograph: Arthur Jones/Evening Standard/Getty Images
Challenger George Foreman walks away from champion Joe Frazier as he wins the world heavyweight championship in Kingston, Jamaica, in January, 1973. Photograph: Bettmann
George Foreman training in 1974. Photograph: AFP
George Foreman during the weigh-in before his Rumble in the Jungle fight with Muhammad Ali in October 1974. Photograph: AFP
The October 1974 fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, known as the Rumble in the Jungle. Photograph: AFP
Muhammad Ali on the ropes during the Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman. Photograph: AFP/Getty
George Foreman gets tough in Warner Brothers' Let's Do It Again, directed by Sidney Poitier, in June 1976. Photograph: Evening Standard/Getty Images
George Foreman poses with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in October 1989. Photograph: Micheline Pelletier/Sygma
George Foreman lands a right hook on Tommy Morrison at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in June 1993. Morrison won by a UD 12. Photograph: The Ring Magazine via Getty Images
George Foreman lands a straight right on Michael Moorer during a bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November 1994. Photograph: Holly Stein /Allsport
George Foreman wins a round during a bout against Michael Moorer in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November 1994. Foreman won the fight with a knockout in the 10th round. Photograph: Al Bello/Allsport
George Foreman receives treatment during his bout with Shannon Briggs in November 1997. Briggs won the bout by way of decision after 10 rounds. Photograph: Al Bell
George Foreman launching his 'Lean, Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine' in November 2001. Photograph: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
George Foreman at the world premiere of Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World in April 2023. Photograph: Michael Tran/ AFP
