Two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman passed away at the age of 76 on March 21, 2025. The sports world along with political figures praised his achievements when former President Donald Trump credited him as a “GREAT FIGHTER” and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson identified him as a “knockout artist.”
Throughout his distinguished boxing career, Foreman became recognized as an iconic figure renowned for his hard-hitting punches and his extraordinary fighting duration. The world heavyweight championship title first came to him through his punishing victory against Joe Frazier in 1973. After a year, Foreman participated in the highly legendary fight “Rumble in the Jungle” but lost to Muhammad Ali in a historic battle.
This loss did not deter Foreman from making one of the most impressive comebacks in sports history. Following his professional hiatus he returned to boxing during the late 1980s until he became heavyweight champion at the age of 45 and regained the heavyweight title by defeating Michael Moorer in 1994. With this victory, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion ever which remains his record in history today.
President Trump shared his thoughts on Foreman’s passing on Truth Social, stating that Foreman had the “heaviest and biggest punch in the history of boxing” and that aside from Muhammad Ali, “when you got hit, you went down.” He described Foreman as a “great person, with a personality that was bigger than life,” and extended condolences to the Foreman family, calling him “a real champion in all ways.”
Magic Johnson dedicated a post praising Foreman for his dangerous knockout abilities, saying, “George Foreman was a knockout artist in the ring, and it was a pleasure getting to know him not only as a boxer but as a man. After leaving the ring, he turned into an amazing businessman — I even bought one of the first George Foreman grills!”
NBA legend Charles Barkley, speaking during CBS Sports‘ NCAA tournament coverage, admitted that the news left him “shook up right now.” Fellow Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen shared on X, “Rest in peace, George Foreman. Your legacy lives on, champ,” alongside a photo of the boxer.
Outside of sports, tributes continued to pour in. Tennis legend Billie Jean King shared that Foreman had bet on her during her iconic “Battle of the Sexes” match and even acted as her bodyguard when crowds stormed the court. “He was a great champion and a good friend,” she wrote, offering her condolences.
Chuck D, the frontman of Public Enemy, posted a portrait of Foreman with the caption, “George was one of my HEROES,” highlighting the boxer’s cultural influence across generations and communities.
Beyond his career in boxing the world saw Foreman achieve business leadership roles combined with religious administration of his ministry. The George Foreman Grill became his business identity after its wide-scale global success which made him famous much beyond boxing circles. After his retirement Foreman dedicated most of his time to guiding young athletes and maintaining youth programs nationwide.
All boxing circles mourned his passing away. Mike Tyson identified Foreman as “one of the greatest warriors in the entire history of boxing sport.” Numerous boxing promoters and trainers reminisced about Foreman as a mild-tempered person who practiced strict discipline and showed boundless dedication to the sport.
