One of the greatest and oldest heavyweight boxing champions, George Foreman, has died at the age of 76. A boxing icon, Foreman was an Olympic champion and heavyweight champion in professional boxing.
"It is with deep sadness that we announce that, surrounded by loved ones, our beloved George Edward Foreman has passed away," his family announced.
A fearsome, thunderous puncher who lost his first professional title to Muhammad Ali in their famous "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974.
Twenty years later, Big George knocked out Michael Moorer and, at 45, became the oldest heavyweight boxing champion.
At the age of 19 and in his 25th amateur fight, Foreman won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
In the professional ring, he won 37 consecutive matches en route to facing reigning champion Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, winning by technical knockout in the second round.
Foreman defended the belt twice more before meeting Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), in one of the most famous matches in history.
For seven rounds, Ali lay against the ropes and defended himself against Foreman's heavy blows, tiring him out before knocking him out in the eighth round.
"I was a hitting machine and that was the first time I delivered everything I had and nothing worked," Forman recalled in 2007.
He took a break that lasted 10 years and then tied 24 wins, until 12 great rounds with Evander Hoyfield who he lost on points in 1991. Three years later he outclassed Murer for another title, and finished his career with 76 wins and five losses.
Numerous aces, including the president of the United States, have paid tribute to the sports legend.
"He had, without a doubt, the hardest and biggest punch in the history of boxing. With the exception of Ali, a punch from him meant a fall. He was something truly special, but above all, he was a great person, with a personality that was larger than life. I knew him well and I will miss him. My warmest condolences to his beautiful family," Donald Trump said.
Billie Jean King, Mike Tyson, Magic Johnson, Michael Buffer, Mauricio Soleimani, Bob Arum, Frank Warren... all said goodbye to Foreman.
Bonus video:
