George Foreman, one of the greatest boxers of all time, passes away

(Patria) - George Foreman, one of the greatest boxers in history, an Olympic winner and two-time heavyweight world champion, has passed away at the age of 76.

"Our hearts are broken. With great sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved George Foreman Sr. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

A humanitarian, Olympian, and two-time heavyweight world champion, he was exceptionally respected. He was known as a good, disciplined, and determined man.

He preserved his legacy and fought tirelessly to uphold his name and family," his family announced on Instagram, without stating the cause of death.

He is survived by 12 children, whom he had with five wives.

George Foreman was born in 1949 in Texas and had to work hard to rise from an environment dominated by poverty and racism. He gained fame by winning the gold Olympic medal in 1968.

He reached the Olympics after only 25 fights, and his celebration of the sensational gold in Mexico City, waving the American flag, remains one of the most memorable scenes in Olympic Games history, reports Sportklub.

A year later, Foreman turned professional and reached the top in 1973 as an underdog. By defeating favorite Joe Frazier in Jamaica, he won his first heavyweight world championship title.

He successfully defended the title against Jose Roman and Ken Norton before facing Muhammad Ali in the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle" fight, held in Kinshasa, in then-Zaire.

Foreman was expected to defeat the legend. His power and relentless pressure on opponents, who seemed unstoppable, were supposed to be key against Ali.

However, Ali adopted his strategy, retreated to the ropes, and let Foreman exhaust himself. While hitting him, Ali provoked him, saying: "You disappoint me. Is that the best you can do?"

In the end, the exhausted Foreman became an easy target, and Ali sent him to the canvas with a right hand. Thus, he won the fight of the century and ended Foreman's dominance. Foreman initially struggled to accept the defeat, but over time, he changed his attitude and became friends with Ali.

Foreman's return to the top in 1994 was also unforgettable, when at the age of 45, he defeated Michael Moorer and became world champion again. This made him the oldest heavyweight champion in history. He also set a record for the longest period between two title wins.

Foreman was not only known as a boxer. He became a preacher and pastor of the Lord Jesus Christ Church.

In addition, he achieved incredible business success. He earned hundreds of millions of dollars from selling the electric grill bearing his name.

By 2011, he had earned $200 million from that business alone, significantly exceeding the earnings from his decades-long boxing career.