George Foreman, the two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist, has died at the age of 76, his family announced on Friday.

“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,” his family said in a statement on his official Instagram account.

Foreman was one of boxing’s most dominant heavyweights, winning the world title in 1973 with a knockout victory over Joe Frazier.

He later became widely known for his legendary 1974 bout against Muhammad Ali, the “Rumble in the Jungle,” in which he suffered his first professional defeat.

Born in Texas in 1949, Foreman grew up in a tough Houston neighbourhood. He dropped out of school at 15 before joining the Job Corps, where he discovered boxing. At 19, he won a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, a victory that propelled him into the professional ranks.

Foreman retired from boxing in 1977 after a near-death experience but made a remarkable comeback a decade later at the age of 38. In 1994, at 45, he reclaimed the world heavyweight title by defeating Michael Moorer, making him the oldest heavyweight champion in history at the time.

Outside the ring, Foreman built a successful career as a businessman and television personality. He became the face of the George Foreman Grill, a product that sold over 100 million units worldwide.

Foreman was married five times and had 12 children, including five sons named George. He is survived by his wife, Mary Joan Martelly, and 11 children.