George Foreman, a heavyweight boxing champion who returned to the sport to regain his title at the improbable age of 45, and who parlayed his fame and his amiable personality into a multimillion-dollar grill business, died on Friday night in Houston. He was 76.
His family announced the death, in a hospital, on his Instagram account. Roy Foreman, George’s brother, said the cause was not known.
When Foreman returned to the ring after 10 years away, there was skepticism that a fighter of his years could beat anyone younger, much less come back to the top of the game.
However, in 1994, he shocked the world by beating the undefeated Michael Moorer to reclaim the world title.
“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,” his family wrote.
“A humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name – for his family.”
Born in Marshall, Texas, in 1949, Foreman’s family moved to Houston, where he grew up poor in the segregated south and dropped out of junior high school, using his size and strength in street robberies.
At 16, Foreman was encouraged to channel his rage and stature into boxing after joining the Job Corps, which was part of United States President Lyndon B Johnson’s “Great Society” reforms.