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"
"We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own."
Foreman's death naturally led to an outpouring of tributes from fellow esteemed sportspeople across the globe, including Tyson, who took to social media to share a short statement accompanied by two photos of him and the late two-time heavyweight champion.
"Condolences to George Foreman's family. His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten," Tyson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Basketball legend Johnson labelled Foreman a "knockout artist" in his own tribute to the late Olympic gold medallist, whose life after the ring saw him establish a business empire with George Foreman grills.
"I was really sad to hear the news that one of my boxing heroes, George Foreman, passing away. I attended so many of George's championship fights over his career," Johnson wrote on X.
"He 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! Cookie and I will be praying for his family during this time."
Foreman's boxing legacy and career achievements following legend's death
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
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.
Ben Knapton
