By Adrian Bill Wilson.
George Foreman, the two-time world heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist whose iconic rivalry with Muhammad Ali reached its zenith in the legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ title bout, passed away Friday, according to a verified social media account dedicated to Foreman. He was 76.
The Instagram post reads: “Our hearts are broken. With profound sadness, we share the loss of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed this world on March 21, 2025, surrounded by his family. A dedicated preacher, a supportive spouse, a loving parent, and a proud grandfather and great-grandfather, he lived a life filled with unwavering faith, kindness, and direction.
“A humanitarian, an Olympic champion, and two-time heavyweight titleholder, he was greatly revered — a champion of righteousness, a man of discipline, conviction, and a guardian of his name, relentlessly striving to preserve his esteemed legacy—for his family.
“We are grateful for the tremendous love and prayers, and we kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were fortunate to call our own.”
Recognized as one of the most lethal punchers in boxing history, Foreman earned Olympic gold after merely his 25th amateur fight, triumphed over the legendary Joe Frazier, and retained the heavyweight title twice before his now-legendary 1974 bout with Ali in Kinshasha, Zaire—now recognized as the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
Foreman’s victory over Soviet fighter Jonas Čepulis at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico signaled the beginning of his professional career, but his celebration held notable importance.
He took a small American flag and waved it to every corner of the venue—a memorable act, especially since just ten days earlier, his US teammates Tommie Smith and John Carlos performed the Black Power salute during the medal ceremony.
It was an action for which Foreman holds no regrets, despite facing backlash upon returning to the US.
He expressed to The Undefeated: “When I entered the Olympic Village, I noticed a few athletes who looked like me. I approached them for conversation, but they didn’t speak English. For the first time, I realized that the only thing that could unite us was our nation’s colors.
“I waved the flag so they would recognize me as American. The audience began to applaud, so I raised it higher. That’s the only reason I had that flag. If I could do it again, I would have carried two flags in my pocket.”
He recalled: “I proudly walked down Lyons Avenue in the Fifth Ward [in Houston] displaying my medal. A man I believed was a friend approached, looked me directly in the eye and said, ‘How could you support what you did when the brothers [Smith and Carlos] were making their statement?’ It … shattered … my … heart. I didn’t see that coming.” 
