George Foreman, heavyweight boxing icon and entrepreneur, dies at 76

LOS ANGELES -- George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who mislaid the "Rumble successful the Jungle" to Muhammad Ali earlier his inspiring 2nd enactment arsenic a 45-year-old champion and a palmy businessman, died Friday night. He was 76.

Foreman's household announced his decease connected societal media.

"A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a arrogant grand- and great-grandfather, helium lived a beingness marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose," his household wrote.

A autochthonal Texan, Foreman began his boxing vocation arsenic an Olympic golden medalist who inspired fearfulness arsenic helium climbed to the highest of the heavyweight part by stopping Joe Frazier successful 1973. His formidable aura evaporated lone a twelvemonth aboriginal erstwhile Ali pulled disconnected 1 of the astir audacious victories successful boxing past successful Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his loop successful 1 of the top fights ever staged.

Foreman near the athletics a fewer years later, but returned aft a 10-year lack and a self-described spiritual awakening.

He past pulled disconnected 1 of the astir spectacular knockouts successful boxing past successful 1994, flooring Michael Moorer - 19 years his inferior - with 1 cleanable operation to assertion Moorer's 2 heavyweight belts.

Foreman's translation into an inspirational fig was complete, and helium fought lone 4 much times earlier moving onto his adjacent vocation arsenic a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.

He was champion known arsenic the look of the George Foreman Grill, a rudimentary cooking instrumentality which sold much than 100 cardinal units and made him overmuch wealthier than his athletics ever did.