George Foreman
George Edward Foreman (January 10, 1949 – March 21, 2025) was an American professional boxer, businessman, minister, and author. Nicknamed "Big George," he competed in boxing from 1967 to 1997, becoming a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. He is also the namesake of the George Foreman Grill.
Born in Marshall, Texas, and raised in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Foreman had a troubled youth, dropping out of school at 15 and working as a mugger. At 16, he joined the Job Corps, where he earned his GED and trained as a carpenter and bricklayer. He initially idolized football star Jim Brown but switched to boxing. Foreman won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, defeating the Soviet Union’s Jonas Čepulis by referee stoppage in the second round. He considered this Olympic gold his proudest boxing achievement.
Turning professional in 1969, Foreman captured the undisputed world heavyweight title in 1973 by knocking out the undefeated Joe Frazier in two rounds. He defended the belt twice before losing to Muhammad Ali in the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle." After a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman retired, having undergone a born-again experience that led him to become an ordained Christian minister.
A decade later, he launched a comeback. In 1994, at age 45, Foreman unified the WBA, IBF, and lineal heavyweight titles by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer, earning Associated Press Athlete of the Year honors. He later dropped the WBA belt and, after one successful defense against Axel Schulz, relinquished the IBF title in June 1995. At 46 years and 169 days, he became the oldest world heavyweight champion in history and the second-oldest boxer to win any world title. He also holds the record for the longest interval between world title reigns, over 20 years. He retired in 1997 at 48 with a record of 76 wins (68 knockouts) and 5 losses.
Foreman is a member of both the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The International Boxing Research Organization ranks him the eighth-greatest heavyweight ever. In 2002, *The Ring* named him one of the 25 greatest fighters of the past 80 years, and the following year ranked him the ninth-greatest puncher of all time. He worked as a ringside analyst for HBO for 12 years until 2004. Outside the ring, he became a successful entrepreneur, f
- field
- Boxing, business, ministry
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Two-time world heavyweight champion; oldest world heavyweight champion; George Foreman Grill
Lore & Background
George Edward Foreman, known as "Big George," was a towering figure in boxing, standing as a two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist. His appearance was defined by a powerful, muscular build and a menacing presence in the ring, which he used to devastating effect with his punching power. Foreman’s range as a fighter was marked by his ability to end bouts early, with 68 of his 76 professional wins coming by knockout. His defining characteristics included a stunning second-round knockout of the undefeated Joe Frazier in 1973 to win the undisputed heavyweight title, and his legendary comeback after a ten-year retirement. At age 45, he reclaimed the unified WBA, IBF, and lineal heavyweight championships by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer in 1994, making him the oldest world heavyweight champion in history at 46 years and 169 days. He also holds the record for the longest interval between world title reigns, over 20 years. Foreman’s habitat extended from the boxing ring to the business world, where he became a successful entrepreneur and minister. He was a ringside analyst for HBO for 12 years and is a member of both the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame, rated the eighth-greatest heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization.
Reader's Guide
George Foreman's significance in boxing stems from his two distinct world heavyweight championship reigns, which were separated by more than twenty years, the longest such interval in the sport's history. His first reign began in 1973 when he defeated the previously undefeated Joe Frazier via a second-round knockout to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. After defending the title twice, he suffered his first professional loss to Muhammad Ali in the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle." Following a subsequent defeat to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman retired. He then experienced a born-again conversion and became an ordained Christian minister. A decade later, he launched a comeback. In 1994, at age 45, he knocked out 26-year-old Michael Moorer to win the unified WBA, IBF, and lineal heavyweight titles, earning Associated Press Athlete of the Year honors. At 46 years and 169 days old, he became the oldest world heavyweight champion in history. He later dropped the WBA belt and relinquished the IBF title after a single successful defense against Axel Schulz. Foreman retired in 1997 at age 48 with a record of 76 wins, 68 by knockout, and 5 losses. He is a member of both the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Research Organization rates him as the eighth-greatest heavyweight of all time. Outside the ring, he became a successful entrepreneur, most notably through the George Foreman Grill, which sold over 100 million units by 2011; he sold the commercial rights for $138 million in 1999.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the George Foreman Grill?
The George Foreman Grill is a dual-sloped electric grilling appliance that became a massive consumer hit in the United States. Foreman lent his name and likeness to the product, making him one of the most recognizable faces in kitchen appliances.
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