President Donald Trump praised the late George Foreman in a Saturday post on social media after news broke late on Friday night that the 76-year-old boxing legend passed away.
“George Foreman is dead. What a GREAT FIGHTER!!!” Trump wrote. “He had, without question, the heaviest and biggest punch in the history of boxing. With the exception of Ali, when you got hit, you went down.”
“He was something really Special, but above all, he was a Great Person, with a personality that was bigger than life,” Trump continued. “I knew him well, and he will be missed. Warmest condolences to his wonderful family!!!”
After retiring from boxing after winning two heavyweight titles and an Olympic gold medal, Foreman launched a successful line of in-home grills — more than 100 million units have been sold — that were named after him. He was also a pastor.
Fellow legendary boxer Mike Tyson reacted to the news of Foreman’s passing by posting on X: “Condolences to George Foreman’s family. His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.”
Condolences to George Foreman’s family. His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/Xs5QjMukqr
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) March 22, 2025
In 1969, Foreman became a professional boxer, winning all of his 13 fights in his first year and all of his 12 fights the next year. He won a total of 32 fights without losing by the end of 1971. In 1973, he faced World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier and won by total knockout, admitting to ESPN’s Andscape in 2023 that the only person he feared was Frazier.
Foreman went on to defend the title against Jose Roman and Ken Norton. In 1974, Foreman battled the great Muhammad Ali in a fight referred to as “the Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali defeated Foreman despite being the huge underdog.
The loss crushed Foreman, who told Vogue Man Arabia in 2019 that he “lost everything I ever was” after that fight. “It was the most devastating event in my life as an athlete. I was not even a man no more,” he added.
Foreman officially retired from boxing in 1999, but continued to his celebrity appearances, including a 12-episode comedy travel show with Henry Winkler, William Shatner, and Terry Bradshaw called “Better Late Than Never.”
Foreman had 12 children; seven daughters (one of whom, Freeda, died in 2019) and five sons all named George.
Ashe Schow contributed to this report.
