By GREG BEACHAM
George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who misplaced the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali earlier than his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a profitable businessman, died Friday evening. He was 76.
Foreman’s household introduced his dying on social media.
“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 household wrote.
A local Texan, Foreman started his boxing profession as an Olympic gold medalist who impressed concern as he climbed to the height of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated solely a yr later when Ali pulled off some of the audacious victories in boxing historical past in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into shedding his belt in one of many biggest fights ever staged.
Foreman left the game just a few years later, however returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described spiritual awakening.
He then pulled off some of the spectacular knockouts in boxing historical past in 1994, flooring Michael Moorer — 19 years his junior — with one excellent mixture to assert Moorer’s two heavyweight belts.
Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational determine was full, and he fought solely 4 extra occasions earlier than shifting onto his subsequent profession as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.
He was greatest referred to as the face of the George Foreman Grill, a rudimentary cooking machine which bought greater than 100 million items and made him a lot wealthier than his sport ever did.
