The sporting world is in mourning after the passing of boxing legend George Foreman on March 21 at the age of 76.
Surrounded by family, Foreman died peacefully, as confirmed in a heartfelt statement issued by his family on his official Instagram page. The message celebrated the life of a man defined by unwavering faith, discipline, and a lasting legacy both inside and outside the boxing ring.
Foreman rose to fame as a dominant force in boxing, capturing his first heavyweight title in 1973 with a second-round knockout of then-undefeated Joe Frazier. The win solidified his reputation as a fearsome competitor, but his career took a dramatic turn with his historic defeat to Muhammad Ali in the iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974. After retiring in 1977 to pursue a calling as an ordained Christian minister, Foreman made a triumphant return to the sport a decade later.
George Foreman’s many children
Away from boxing, Foreman was pretty prolific when it came to having children. He had five sons and five daughters, with many of them pursuing careers in boxing or working for some of Foreman‘s many businesses.
He opted to give all five of his sons the same name, George Edward Foreman. Not wanting to cause the same confusion with his daughters, they were named Natalie, Leola, Michi, Georgetta and the late Freeda.
Foreman often spoke about why he named his sons George, explaining that sharing the same name united his children together. “I wanted them to have something in common … I tell them if one goes up, we all go up. If one gets in trouble, we’re all in trouble,” Foreman said on In Depth with Graham Besinger in 2021. “I tell them, either live up to the name or change it.”
He also told CBN the same year that his children were “the one thing I’m most proud of.” He added, “They’ve gone on, some of them, to stand the test, to get college education, and that’s the hardest thing in the world to achieve; but most of all they’re good parents, and that’s what I’m proud of.”
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