Boxing legend and grill mogul “Big” George Foreman died at 76, according to his family on his social media account.
The Foreman family made the announcement on his official Instagram account a little after 9 p.m.
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Foreman was a humanitarian, an Olympian, and a two-time world heavyweight boxing champion who forcefully announced his presence in the squared circle at the 1968 Summer Olympics. At just 19 years old, he won the gold medal.
He turned professional shortly after that and, in 1973, defeated undefeated champion “Smokin” Joe Frazier by knockout to capture his first title.
Foreman later lost the championship to Muhammad Ali in 1974 in the Rumble in the Jungle.
He retired in 1976 but shocked the boxing world when, at the age of 45, he beat Michael Moorer to regain championship gold on Nov. 5, 1994.
During his retirement, Foreman turned his life over to God and became a preacher in 1978.
Foreman later lived up to the Big nickname as he became bigger than life selling the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine, which he sold over 100 million worldwide.
He became iconic by capturing the hearts of Americans.
During television programs, he stood in front of audiences wearing his famous apron to promote the grill.
