Known as Big George in the Ring, the American has been competing for decades, beginning in the 1960s, winning gold from the Olympics and numerous titles, including the world heavyweight title twice.
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Born George Edward Forman on January 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas, his amateur career in boxing reached his peak at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, where he won a gold medal and a famous US flag after his victory.
In his autobiography, he said that he waved the flag “as much for himself as for the country.”
“I let everyone know who I was and at the same time saying I was proud to be American.”
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After he became a professional in 1969, he quickly erected the ranks. By 1972, he had a winning series of 37 matches – 35 of which were knockouts. His first shot at the World Heavyweight Championship came in 1973 when he knocked out the then World Champion, Joe Fraser.
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Forman won the title at the age of 24 and successfully defended it twice.
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Then Forman lost his heavyweight title to Mohammed Ali in his famous Rumble in 1974 in the match in the jungle. To wear a brigadier, Ali spent eight rounds, leaning on the ropes, a tactic he called a “rope-of-ahead”.
He once called the loss the “most incorrect moment” of his life.
“I just couldn’t believe that I had lost the world title,” he said, adding, “This went out for regret to regret. It’s devastating.
His opponent, Foreman, was “the most serious human being I have ever met.”
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A big change came in 1977: Shortly after the loss of American boxer Jimmy Young Forman, he gave up boxing and focused on religion, becoming ordained minister in 1978. Later, he founded the Youth and Chitalishte of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He told the BBC that his defeat against Ali became the “best thing that had ever happened to me” because he eventually made him “take out my message” through preaching.
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After nearly ten years of boxing, Forman decided to take the gloves back in 1987 and return to the ring to raise funds for his youth center. During his successful return to the sport, he won 24 games before losing to Evnder Holifield after 12 rounds in 1991.
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In 1994, he took Jab into a new endeavor, becoming Grig Forer Grill’s face – also known as the Lean Mean Makering Machine. In the boxing ring, he also became the oldest heavyweight champion at 45 that year. He withdrew from boxing three years later, in 1997, accumulating a stunning record of 76 wins and 5 losses.
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Forman had 12 children – including five sons, who were all also named George. He is in the photo here with his son George III. He once explained that he had baptized them on himself, so “they will always have something in common.” He continued his work in the church until his death, preaching his ministry four times a week, according to his website.
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