The heavyweight boxing legend dies at 76 years old

Boxing heavyweight legend George Foreman passed away at the age of 76.

The American, known as the Big George of the Ring, won Olympic Gold in 1968, winning two 21 years apart and two world heavyweight titles, becoming the oldest champion in history at the age of 45.

He lost his first title to Muhammad Ali in the famous Rumble at the Battle of the Jungle in 1974, but overall he boasted an astonishing total of 76 victories, including 68 knockouts.

Foreman retired in 1997, but not before he agreed to put his name on the bestseller grill.

His family said in an Instagram post Friday night: “Our hearts are broken. A dev preacher, devoted husband, loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life characterized by unshakable faith, humility and purpose.”

The statement states, “A humanitarian, Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected – the power, discipline, belief, and protector of his legacy, is a tireless battle to maintain his good name for his family.”

A tribute poured in by others throughout the sport has been described as former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson saying Foreman’s “contributions to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.”

Ring Magazine, often referred to as the Bible of Boxing, described him as “one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.”

“(He) will be remembered forever as an icon of sports.”

Foreman was born on January 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas, and grew up in the quarantined American South by a single mother with six brothers.

He dropped out of school and turned his eyes to the street robber before eventually finding his outlet in the ring.

Foreman won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, when he was 19 years old, before turning professionals and winning 37 consecutive matches. He lost five matches in his career.

He knocked down previously undefeated champion Joe Frazier six times in the first two rounds in Kingston, Jamaica in 1973.

His 1974 jungle was a rumble against the jungle with Ali in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is one of the most famous boxing matches to date.

An older man, Ali was a weak man after being stripped of his crown seven years ago for refusing to be drafted in the Vietnam War.

In an interview with BBC World Services Newshour in October, 50 years later, Foreman looked back on the legendary battle 50 years later, explaining that everyone thought he would destroy Ali.

“Yeah, he’s not going to continue with a round,” the boxer said the experts had predicted at the time.

Foreman told the BBC that he took “real tension” before the boxing match and had “butterflies,” but that night it was “most comfortable” he felt.

However, Wily Ali used tactics, which later became known as “Rope-a-Dope.” This puts on Foreman and lets Ali throw him away hundreds of punches before he could drop him down and score a knockout in the eighth round.

After his second professional defeat, Foreman retired in 1977 and became an appointed pastor of the Lord Jesus Christ Church in Texas, founded and built it.

He told the BBC that his defeat to Ali ultimately led him to “put my message out” through his sermon, making it “the best thing that has happened to me.”

He remembered that his sermon was small on the street corner and with friends, and then grown up.

“We started meeting informally in various Houston homes, but in time the crowds became too big for most homes to accommodate,” Foreman said on the website.

“In the end, we bought the land on the northeast side of Houston and the old, dilapidated buildings.”

Foreman came out of retirement in 1987 and raised money for the youth center he founded. He won 24 games after losing Holyfield to Evanderfield after 12 rounds in 1991.

In 1994, Foreman knocked out the undefeated Michael Mooler and at the age of 45 he became the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

He became the advertising pitchman for George Foreman Grill. It has been purchased by millions since its release on the market in 1994.

Foreman has been married five times. He has dozens of children, including five sons named George.

He explained on his website that he named him after himself, and that “they’ll always have something.”

“I tell them, ‘If one of us goes up, we all go up together,’ he explained. “And if it falls, we’ll all go down together!”