George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76
George Foreman. (AFP/File)
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Updated 22 March 2025

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. He was 76.
Foreman’s family announced his death on social media.
“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.
A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt in one of the greatest fights ever staged.
Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening.
He then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history in 1994, flooring Michael Moorer — 19 years his junior — with one perfect combination to claim Moorer’s two heavyweight belts.
Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.
He was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, a rudimentary cooking machine which sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did.


Juventus held to scoreless home draw in Turin derby

Juventus held to scoreless home draw in Turin derby
Updated 10 sec ago

Juventus held to scoreless home draw in Turin derby

Juventus held to scoreless home draw in Turin derby
Juve are fifth in the standings on 19 points from 11 games, two points behind Inter Milan
Conceicao also had a shot from a wide angle go narrowly the wrong side of the upright

TURIN, Italy: Juventus largely dominated but were unable to get the better of neighbors Torino in a 0-0 home draw on Saturday, dealing a blow to Luciano Spalletti’s side’s hopes of gaining ground in the Serie A title race.
The hosts had won their last two Serie A games since sacking manager Igor Tudor, one of those victories coming in Spalletti’s first game in charge, but a largely toothless derby display left the crowd frustrated.
Juve are fifth in the standings on 19 points from 11 games, two points behind Inter Milan, AC Milan and AS Roma, who all have a match in hand, with leaders Napoli on 22 points ahead of Sunday’s game at Bologna. Torino are in 11th place on 14 points.
The opening half may have been mostly one-way traffic but Juventus struggled to create any real opportunities against their neighbors, any half-chances that came their way inspired by Francisco Conceicao.
The Portuguese winger played a decent ball into Dusan Vlahovic just outside the six-yard area but Torino defender Guillermo Maripan did well to get ahead of the Serbian striker to clear the danger.
Conceicao also had a shot from a wide angle go narrowly the wrong side of the upright. If Conceicao provided a spark on the right side, Kenan Yildiz on the left is still struggling to live up to the number 10 jersey.
Yildiz was often guilty of losing possession, and on the rare occasion he managed to go past his marker, his final ball let him down.
Spalletti cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines, pacing his technical area and only standing still to take notes. But his halftime team talk did little to alter proceedings, if anything Torino grew in confidence and began to threaten.
The visitors, who had not beaten Juventus in their last 20 league meetings, never really looked like changing that statistic, but substitute Che Adams forced Michele Di Gregorio into a save with a powerful strike.
Spalletti changed things up, Edon Zhegrova and Jonathan David coming on, with Conceicao and Vlahovic, somewhat surprisingly, replaced.
Zhegrova whipped in a cross for Weston McKennie but keeper Alberto Paleari parried away the header, and try as Juventus might, a goal proved elusive.