George Foreman, Las Vegas Boxing Legend, Dies at 76

Posted on: March 22, 2025, 09:17h. 

Last updated on: March 22, 2025, 11:08h.

Corey Levitan Read More

Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

George Foreman died on Friday at age 76. Announcing the boxing legend’s death on Instagram, his family did not specify a cause of death, only that he “peacefully departed … surrounded by loved ones.”

Foreman became boxing’s oldest heavyweight champion ever in 1994, when he delivered a stunning defeat to title-holder Michael Moorer in Las Vegas at age 45.

Foreman was out of shape at the time. Some say he shouldn’t have even been in the ring — especially against Moorer, who was 26 and undefeated with a record of 35-0. But in the 10th round, trailing on all three of the judges’ scorecards, Foreman delivered a powerful knockout blow to Moorer’s chin, collapsing him to the canvas.

Before this moment, Foreman was destined to be remembered by history for losing. In the most famous fight in boxing history, 1974’s “Rumble in the Jungle,”  he was stripped of his his WBA and WBC titles by Muhammad Ali in an eighth-round knockout.

During the post-fight press conference at the MGM Grand in 1994, a reporter asked Foreman about his tight red boxing shorts. They were the same ones he wore during his loss to Ali.

Foreman’s other memorable Las Vegas boxing matches include a fifth-round knockout of Ron Lyle at Caesars Palace in 1976 that was named “fight of the year” by The Ring magazine, and a TKO victory over Dwight Muhammad Qawi at the same venue in 1988.

He also won a majority-decision defeat of Alex Stewart in 1992 at the Thomas & Mack Center. He lost to Tommy Morrison in the same venue the next year, but defended his IBF titled against Axel Schulz at the MGM Grand in 1995.

He retired from the sport in 1997 with a record of 76-5 and 68 knockouts.

Second Act

With his redraft of his place in boxing history complete, Foreman moved on to his next act as a boxing commentator and pitchman. Selling more than 100 million units, the George Foreman Grill remains one of the most successful kitchen appliances ever.

Other sports legends paid their respects to Foreman on Saturday morning. Fellow former heavyweight cham Mike Tyson said in an X post that “his contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten,” while basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley told CBS Sports that his death “hurts a lot.”

“He was obviously one of the greatest boxers ever, but just a gentle man, he was a pastor — and it just hurts man, plain and simple,” Barkley added. “I’m shook up right now, that caught me so off guard.”

Foreman had 12 children, including five sons all famously named George Edward Foreman.

“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,” his family wrote on Instagram. “A humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. 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.”