Christal Hayes
BBC News, Los Angeles
Boxing heavyweight legend George Foreman has died aged 76, according to his family.
Foreman, known as Big George in the ring, competed for decades starting in the 1960s, winning gold at the Olympics and numerous title belts, including the world heavyweight title twice.
He lost his first title to Muhammad Ali in their famous Rumble in the Jungle fight in 1974. But his professional boxing career boasted 68 knock outs, almost double that of Ali. He lost five bouts over his career.
Foreman won his first world heavyweight championship in 1973 then did it again in 1994 when he was 45. He retired from the sport in 1997.
His family said in a post on Instagram on Friday night: “Our hearts are broken.
“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.”
The statement added: “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,” the family said, describing Foreman in a post on Instagram.
While he was a household name in his athletic career, Foreman also became well-known for his iconic George Foreman Grill, which millions have purchased over the decades since it hit the market in 1994.
Foreman has a dozen children. Five of his sons are named George.
He explained on his website that he named them after him so they “they would always have something in common”.
“I say to them, ‘If one of us goes up, then we all go up together,” he explained. “And if one goes down, we all go down together!'”
