Regarded as one of the greatest sporting events of the 20th century, The Rumble in the Jungle was a heavyweight championship boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. The event reportedly had an attendance of 60,000 people and was one of the most-watched televised events at the time. Muhammad Ali won the match by knockout in the eighth round, and his rope-a-dope strategy drew attention.
Despite an intense match, Ali and Foreman became friends post their match. When Ali received an Academy Award for When We Were Kings but had trouble walking to the stage due to his Parkinson’s syndrome, Foreman helped him. George Foreman, who recently passed away at the age of 76, had shared the details about the match.
George Foreman recalls his devastating defeat at The Rumble in the Jungle
Directed by George Tillman Jr., 2023’s Big George Foreman is a biographical sports drama film based on the life of world heavyweight champion George Foreman. Actor Khris Davis portrayed the boxer in the movie, and it opened up to mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
Ahead of the release of the movie, George Foreman spoke to Yahoo Entertainment, where he not only shared the details about The Rumble in the Jungle but also why he was hesitant to put his story out. He said back in 2023 those celebrities go through their lives trying to hide everything; they live behind big brick walls where no one can come in.
Foreman shared that the windows of their space are tinted, and they have dark glasses, pointing out that celebrities spend so much time hiding their lives from the public. He mentioned that it’s not easy for any of the celebrities to actually just reveal their lives to the audience or even in the industry. Foreman, three years after losing the match to Muhammad Ali in The Rumble in the Jungle, decided to retire and became a preacher but made a comeback at the age of 38.
During an interview, recalling the infamous match where he lost to Ali’s rope-a-dope strategy, Foreman shared,
Well, at first, he was a likable fellow, but then when it was time to fight him, he was OK. Boy, when I lost to Ali, I was devastated. All I wanted was revenge, to get him into the ring and destroy him. And just when I was about to do it, something happened in my life; I found my salvation.
Foreman mentioned that he found another chance to live and made an acquaintance with God himself, and Muhammad Ali and he became good friends. He added that they had a close relationship. The boxer went on to share that his near-death experience in 1977 made him believe in God, and he changed his path. According to Crosswalk, he shared,
I was in the dressing room… walking back and forward and saying, ‘I don’t care about this boxing match I lost. I’m still George Foreman’. You know I can win this next match, and I got my movie career; I got my money in the bank. And I could go home and retire now and die. That sneaked into my conversation—‘die’—and ’I couldn’t get it out.
Foreman noted that all of a sudden he faced death, and he believed that he was going to die, but he heard a voice within him saying, ‘You believe in God; why are you scared to die?’ He added that he was afraid, and he started fighting to keep the life in him.
He recalled that he died in the dressing room that night, but God brought him back. Foreman shared he was gone out of his life, but Jesus brought him back, and he believed he got a second chance to live.
Legendary boxer George Foreman passes away at the age of 76
The heavyweight legend George Foreman, who had a glorious career in which he had an astonishing 76 wins with 68 knockouts, has passed away at the age of 76. His family announced the news of his demise on his social media account, and the cause of death was not stated. They wrote,
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. 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.
They added further, that Foreman was a humanitarian, an Olympian, and a two-time heavyweight champion of the world, and he was deeply respected. The legendary boxer was a force for good, a man of discipline and conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name for his family.
In 2023, he spoke to USA Today about his return to the ring and said it was like he had done it once and was going to do it again. The boxer added at the time that it was the only profession he knew, and sometimes, he wished he knew an easygoing sport like golf. He beat Michael Moorer in 1994 to reclaim his championship.
Mike Tyson shared a heart-touching tribute to the legendary boxer, writing that his contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten. Turki Alalshikh wrote that the last boxing pillar of an unforgettable era has passed away.
We send our deepest condolences to George Foreman and his family and friends.
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