Mike Tyson and Magic Johnson are among those to have paid tribute to heavyweight boxing legend George Foreman following his death at the age of 76.
Foreman's family confirmed on his Instagram account in the early hours of Saturday morning that the Olympic gold medallist had passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
"Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones," a statement by Foreman's family read.
"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.
"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.
Mike Tyson: "Foreman will never be forgotten"
Considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxing talents of all time, Foreman was just 19 years old when he became Olympic champion at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, where the referee stopped the gold medal bout between him and Jonas Cepulis of the Soviet Union.
After transitioning into professional boxing, Foreman quickly established himself as a number one contender for the heavyweight title, and he became champion for the first time when he defeated Joe Frazier in the Sunshine Showdown in 1973, a fight that lasted just two rounds.
Foreman's perfect 40-0 record was brought to an end by Muhammed Ali in the iconic Rumble of the Jungle in 1974, three years before his first retirement, but the American subsequently made a stunning comeback in the 1990s.
Foreman wrote a new chapter of boxing history in 1994, when at the age of 45 he won his second heavyweight title, becoming the oldest man to ever clinch that honour before hanging up his gloves for good in 1997 at the age of 48.
The Houston native retired with a phenomenal record of 76 wins and five defeats from 81 bouts - achieving victory in 68 of those contests by knockout - before his astounding success with the best-selling George Foreman Grill, which sold in the millions. body check tags ::
