George Foreman is an American former professional boxer, businessman, Christian minister, and author. He is a two-time world heavyweight champion and gold medalist at the 1968 Olympics.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame recognized him as one of the greatest boxers of any era. It occupies the 8th position of the ranking of the greatest heavyweights of all time, according to the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO).
In 2002, he was named one of the 25 greatest boxers of the last 80 years by The Ring magazine, which also placed him in 9th place among the greatest fighters ever. With 81 fights fought and 61 won by knockout, he received the nickname “Big George”, and was recognized as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
After taking retirement from his sports career, he became a successful entrepreneur. George Foreman Nickname is “Big George” because of his successful boxing career.
Facts About George Foreman
Born | 10 January 1949, Marshall, Texas, United States |
Full Name | George Edward Foreman |
Nickname | Big George |
Age | 73 Years Old |
Height | 6 feet 3 inch 191 Centimeter 1.91 Meter |
Weight | 118 kg 260 Pounds |
Hair Color | bald-headed |
Eye Color | Black |
Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
Education | Wheatley High School |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Religion | Christian |
Wife | Adrienne Calhoun (M. 1971-1974) Cynthia Lewis (M. 1977-1979) Sharon Goodson (M. 1981-1982) Andrea Skeete (M. 1982-1985) Mary Joan Martelly (M. 1985) |
Children | George Foreman III Freeda Foreman Georgetta Foreman Natalie Foreman George Foreman VI George Foreman IV Isabella Brenda Lilja Foreman George Foreman Jr. Michi Foreman Leola Foreman Courtney Isaac Foreman George Foreman V |
Parents | Father: Leroy Moorehead Father: JD Foreman Mother: Nancy Foreman |
Siblings | Roy Foreman |
Net Worth | $310 million (As of 2022) |
George Foreman Biography
George Foreman was born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, the USA as George Edward Foreman. He grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward community, with his six siblings. Foreman was raised in a poor family, he was the fourth child of seven children.
When he was 15 years old, he was expelled from Wheatley High School for unknown reasons. As a teenager, Foreman played on some football and basketball teams. In 1965 he met boxing trainer Nick Broadus and began his amateur boxing career.
In 1967, he held his first combat in San Francisco, winning in the first round. He won the National Amateur Athletic Union boxing championship, earning a spot on the North American boxing team.
In 1968, he won the heavyweight gold medal at the Olympic Games in Mexico, beating Soviet Ionas Chepulis. In 1969 he began his professional career with a knockout in the second round at Madison Square Garden.
Over the next few years, he took to the ring 32 times, defeating all competitors. With a winning record, Foreman was ranked number one in boxing in the heavyweight division. In 1973, he defended the title against Joe Frazier in Tokyo, winning in the first round.
In 1974, he beat Ken Norton, in Caracas, accumulating a total of 40 consecutive fights without being defeated. George Foreman defended the title against Muhammad Ali, in October 1974, who had a record of 44 wins and just two losses for Frazier and Norton.
The fight was held in Zaire and Foreman was the favorite, but he was defeated by KO in the eighth round. His first defeat became known as “The Rumble in The Jungle”.
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George Foreman Wife and Family
George Foreman has been married to five women and is the father of twelve children. He has five sons and seven daughters. All of his five sons are also named George. George Foreman daughters names
- Freeda Foreman
- Georgetta Foreman
- Natalie Foreman
- Isabella Brenda Lilja Foreman
- Michi Foreman
- Leola Foreman
- Courtney Isaac Foreman
One of their daughters, Freeda Foreman, died on March 9, 2019, in what appeared to be a suicide. How old is George foreman? George Foreman is 73 years old as of 2022.
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Last Years of His Boxing Career
In 1977, George Foreman retired from boxing to become a pastor in Texas. After 10 years, he decided to return to the ring. In April 1991, he faced heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, losing on points after 12 rounds.
On November 5, 1994, he defeated Michael Moorer, winning the heavyweight titles of the World Boxing Association and the International Boxing Federation. Becoming the oldest world champion in boxing history.
Foreman lost his WBA belt by refusing to face No. 1 challenger Tony Tucker but remained IBF champion. He successfully defended his belt against Axel Schulz on April 22, 1995, winning by a majority decision of the judges. Foreman also won the WBU minor belt.
He was stripped of his IBF title for not giving Schulz a rematch but defeated 20-fight undefeated American Crawford Grimsley by unanimous judges’ decision on November 3, 1996, at Tokyo, also winning the IBA minor belt. On April 26, 1997, at the age of 48, he fought Lou Savarese and won by a split decision of the judges.
His last fight will take place on November 22, 1997, against Shannon Briggs, 22 years his junior. He was beaten on points by majority decision, despite the skepticism of many observers who saw Foreman win.
Foreman, however, will smile at the announcement of this decision and will not challenge it, unlike its promoters. In January 1999, he was scheduled to face former world champion Larry Holmes, the year of their respective 50th anniversaries, but the fight was canceled following financial problems with the promoter.
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Spiritual Rebirth and Entrepreneurship
After his retirement, he became a Christian minister and has his church. George Foreman became an entrepreneur and lent his name to an electrical products company George Foreman grill, and went on to promote grills on several television shows.
George Foreman Net Worth
According to an American business magazine Forbes, George Foreman Net Worth is estimated at $310 million as of 2022. He earned his most wealth through his successful boxing and business career.
Foreman is also a well-known entrepreneur who is best known for promoting the George Foreman Grill, which has sold over 100 million units worldwide. He sold the grill’s commercial rights for $138 million in 1999.