George Foreman, ícone do boxe, falece aos 76 anos, confirma a família

Boxing heavyweight legend George Foreman has passed away at the age of 76, as confirmed by his family. Known as Big George, he had a remarkable career that began in the 1960s, highlighted by winning a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics and securing the world heavyweight title twice. Foreman famously lost his first title to Muhammad Ali during the iconic Rumble in the Jungle in 1974, but his professional record includes 76 wins and 68 knockouts, significantly surpassing Ali's knockout count.

Born on 10 de janeiro de 1949 in Marshall, Texas, Foreman was raised in a challenging environment, dropping out of school and engaging in street crime before finding his passion in boxing. He achieved notable victories, including defeating the undefeated champion Joe Frazier in 1973. His bout against Ali in Zaire remains one of boxing's most celebrated matches, where Ali's strategic "rope-a-dope" technique led to Foreman's defeat in the eighth round.

After retiring in 1977, Foreman became an ordained minister and founded his own church in Texas. He returned to boxing in 1987 to fund a youth center, ultimately reclaiming the heavyweight title in 1994 at the age of 45, making him the oldest heavyweight champion in history. Beyond boxing, he gained fame as a pitchman for the George Foreman Grill, which became a household name.

Foreman was married five times and had a total of 12 children, five of whom share his name. He expressed that naming his sons after himself was a way to create a bond among them, emphasizing unity within the family. His family released a heartfelt statement on social media, reflecting on his life as a devout preacher, humanitarian, and a man of faith and purpose.