George Foreman, Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Famed Entrepreneur, Dead at 76
George Foreman, whose colossal career in the ring saw the legendary boxer take home two heavyweight championships, has died at the age of 76.
HIs family announced his death on Foreman's Instagram account. 'Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones,' read the caption, which was posted alongside a photo of the boxing champion with his family. '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.'
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The statement also highlighted Foreman's achievements as a 'humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world,' writing how the icon was 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.' No cause of death was given.
Foreman first won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, triumphing over Joe Frazier in Jamaica. Turning professional the following year, Foreman won the world heavyweight title in 1973 with a victorious knockout of then-undefeated Joe Frazier. He would also go on to fight Muhammad Ali in 1974 during the historic 'Rumble in the Jungle' in Zaire.
When he returned to the ring despite public skepticism, he beat the undefeated Michael Moorer in 1994 to reclaim the world title.
Outside boxing, he transformed his worldwide fame into a booming business as an entrepreneur known for his George Foreman Grill, which has sold more than 100 million units globally.
This is a developing story.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Lopez: Three years away from the Olympics, L.A. is tripping over hurdles and trying to play catchup
Los Angeles is now a mere 12 months away from serving as primary host of the World Cup soccer championships, and three years away from taking the world stage as host of both the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Athletes and tourists by the tens of thousands will pour into the region from around the world, and I'm reminded of the classic film 'Sunset Boulevard,' in which Gloria Swanson proclaimed, 'I'm ready for my close-up.' Will L.A. be ready for its close-up? That's a question I intend to explore on a semi-regular basis, and you're invited to worry and wonder along with me by sending your comments and questions to To let you know where I'm coming from, I'm a sports fan who watches the Olympics on television despite the politics, the doping scandals and the corporatization of the Games. But I'm also a professional skeptic, and my questions extend far beyond whether we're ready for our close-up. Here are just a few: Will the benefits of hosting outweigh the burdens? Read more: Need a sidewalk fixed in L.A? It could take City Hall 10 years, if you're lucky Will the average Southern Californian get anything out of the years-long buildup and staging of the Games? And, will basic services and infrastructure near Olympic venues get upgrades at the expense of long-overdue improvements in other areas? The answer to that question is a big 'yes,' says L.A. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who represents the northeastern San Fernando Valley. 'What I've seen in [the latest] budget is that those areas that will be hosting some of the Olympic events will be prioritized,' she said, and that means her district is off the radar. It's worth noting that the city of Los Angeles is not running these Olympics (that's the job of LA28, a private nonprofit working in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee), nor is it hosting all the events. 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Speaking of bad looks, moving thousands of athletes and tourists around the city will be key to the success of the Games, but some of the so-called "28 by 28" transportation improvements slated for completion by the start of the Olympics have been dereailed or scaled back. And my colleague Colleen Shalby reported last month that Metro's projected budget deficit over the next five years is massive: 'Critical parts of Metro's Olympics plans are yet to be nailed down," she wrote. "The agency has yet to confirm $2 billion in funds to lease nearly 3,000 buses, which are integral to Los Angeles' transit-first goal for the Games.' Michael Schneider, founder of the nonprofit Streets for All, said L.A.'s budget crisis 'is coming at the worst possible time.' 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Read more: Reopen Alcatraz as a prison? Yes, but Trump shouldn't stop there L.A. had gold-medal aspirations, and the city has made some transit improvements. It's also got a wealth of signature natural wonders to show off, from the mountains to the sea, just as the Paris Games featured the Eiffel Tower and the magical evening skyline. But three big hurdles now stand in the way of making it to the podium: The budget limitations (which could get worse between now and 2028), the diversion of resources to the Palisades wildfire recovery, and the uncertainty of desperately needed federal financial support from President Trump, who would probably not put Los Angeles on his list of favorite cities. Races are sometimes won by runners making a move from the back of the pack, and L.A. could still find its stride, show some pride, and avoid embarrassing itself. That's what I'm rooting for. But just one year away from the World Cup and three from the Olympics, the clock is ticking, and it's almost too late to be playing catchup. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
3 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Three years away from the Olympics, L.A. is tripping over hurdles and trying to play catchup
Los Angeles is now a mere 12 months away from serving as primary host of the World Cup soccer championships, and three years away from taking the world stage as host of both the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Athletes and tourists by the tens of thousands will pour into the region from around the world, and I'm reminded of the classic film 'Sunset Boulevard,' in which Gloria Swanson proclaimed, 'I'm ready for my close-up.' Will L.A. be ready for its close-up? That's a question I intend to explore on a semi-regular basis, and you're invited to worry and wonder along with me by sending your comments and questions to To let you know where I'm coming from, I'm a sports fan who watches the Olympics on television despite the politics, the doping scandals and the corporatization of the Games. But I'm also a professional skeptic, and my questions extend far beyond whether we're ready for our close-up. Here are just a few: Will the benefits of hosting outweigh the burdens? 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'The agency has yet to confirm $2 billion in funds to lease nearly 3,000 buses, which are integral to Los Angeles' transit-first goal for the Games.' Michael Schneider, founder of the nonprofit Streets for All, said L.A.'s budget crisis 'is coming at the worst possible time.' Not that the delivery of basic infrastructure needs should be tied to major sporting events, but he had hoped the Olympics would trigger a substantial investment in 'bus rapid transit, a network of bike lanes, sidewalks that aren't broken, curb ramps. Just the nuts and bolts of infrastructure.' Jules Boykoff, a Pacific University professor and former professional soccer player who has studied the social and economic impacts of several recent Olympics, is not wowed by L.A.'s record so far. 'I thought Los Angeles was going to be in a lot better shape,' Boykoff said. 'I've been taken aback by the problems that exist and how little has been done.' 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Boston Globe
4 hours ago
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Patrice Bergeron and others believe Marco Sturm can do for the Bruins what he did seven years ago for Team Germany
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up It was engineered by Marco Sturm. Advertisement The newest 'He changed the culture,' recalled Christian Künast, one of Sturm's assistant coaches and now the director of the German Ice Hockey Federation. Describing Sturm as 'the best coach I've ever worked with,' Künast raved from his office in Germany. Advertisement 'Obviously we didn't have too many NHL players at that time. It's still new for us, something special when a German player makes it to the NHL,' Künast said. 'He had so much success, scored goals, everyone knew him in the hockey world in Germany. But his biggest influence was when he started as the national team coach.' The coaching carousel spun Sturm in different directions since then, to being an NHL assistant with the Kings and then the head coach of Los Angeles's AHL affiliate for the past three seasons. It was what Sturm accomplished with Team Germany that feels so applicable to what he faces with these Bruins. Just listen to Künast. 'I remember we lost in the quarterfinals in the 2017 World Championships to Canada at home,' he said. 'We lost, 2-1. The feeling in the dressing room was, 'OK, we made the quarters, everything is great. We lost to Canada, no big deal.' Marco changed that. He was bitter and sour about it. He let everyone know about it. 'It's not good enough. We want to have more. We've got to change our attitude.' ' By the Olympics, Sturm's impact was clear, though not right away. Germany opened by getting thrashed, 5-2, by Finland, surrendering three power-play goals. Matt McIlvane was the assistant coach in charge of the penalty kill, an Illinois native who'd been coaching club hockey in Germany and joined the Olympic staff mere days before they departed for South Korea after another coach had to pull out. Now the head coach of the AHL's San Diego Gulls, McIlvane remembered feeling 'like I couldn't find a corner big enough to climb into, I felt so bad.' Advertisement Sturm stayed the course, trusting McIlvane, trusting his players. A win over Norway in the final group stage game soon followed, and then … a run for the ages. The ninth of 12 seeds in the medal round, Germany soared, beating Switzerland, 2-1, and Sweden, 4-3, both in overtime. Then the real shocker — ' Late in the third, Germany clung to a 3-2 lead. 'And we got a power play,' said McIlvane. 'I remember on the bench, talking, should we put two [defensemen] on the ice? We agreed on that … they ended up pulling their goalie, and with 20 seconds left, they scored a goal, tying the game. Then we took a penalty in overtime, they scored against us four on three. Advertisement 'You won a silver medal, but it feels like you lost the gold. It pains me to talk about it even to this day.' But disappointment eventually wanes, dulled as they arrived home to a massive airport welcoming party, embraced by a jubilant nation. The enormity of what they'd accomplished began to sink in. 'I think in that moment we were just pumped about the medal, but after a few years you realize it,' said NHL veteran and Germany team captain Marcel Goc, now a coach with the club Adler Mannheim. 'You need those moments of success for a team or individuals, like [Edmonton star] Leon Draisaitl is having right now, you get more attention, and more attention brings more players, which is what we need.' Goc, who played with Sturm on the Florida Panthers, laughed as he relayed a message for his former teammate, 'Tell him to continue, keep it going for German players.' Related : For now, that comes second to the Bruins, a franchise in the throes of a necessary reset where the roster needs more firepower — 'I was 20 years old when he came from San Jose,' Bergeron said in a telephone call Friday. 'I was trying to learn from the older guys, he was one of them. He was friendly, took me under his wing in a way, helped me along, always extremely respectful. He was a really great teammate, always there for you.' Advertisement Like the rest of the world, Bergeron later watched in awe as Sturm turned the Olympics on its head. 'I was impressed with their run, definitely, the way they came together and went above expectations,' Bergeron said. 'It was great fun for me to see him behind the bench. It was the first time for me to see his demeanor, the way he was acting, because obviously I don't know him as a coach at all, but going from teammate to friend to seeing him behind the bench was exciting.' Next up, Boston. 'There's a picture, the two of us celebrating together on the bench at the Olympics,' McIlvane said, 'I sent it to Marco with a text saying, 'This is the feeling I get when I see you're the head coach of the Bruins.' ' Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
