George Foreman, two-time world heavyweight boxing champion and pitchman for the George Foreman Grill, which has sold more than 100,000 units, has passed away at the end of 76.
Sad to hear- he seemed to be an amiable guy.
Later in life, yes. As a youngster he was a teenage street mugger and as a champion he apparently projected a fairly mean, unfriendly attitude. It seems to have been at least partially an affected persona ( he later claimed he was deliberately emulating Sonny Liston), but it worked - he was regarded as mean and dangerous.
All the more credit then for later remaking his image as an easy-going elder statesman.
I watched him when he was older. Great fighter. And he never sat in between rounds.
I remember watching him fight Holyfield on pay-per-view when I was a teenager. My dad didn’t normally like spending money on TV (aside from basic cable), but I talked him in to getting this.
I remember thinking it was pretty cool a man in his 40s and later pushing 50 was still boxing. I do remember a stand up comedian saying, “You know when someone socks him in the gut he pees just a little.” Mainly what I associate him with his is grilling machine and his many kids named George.
He had a house in the same neighborhood as friends of mine in a Houston suburb. He would often be seen riding his horse around the streets. Pretty friendly guy. And if you thought he was big, picture him up on a horse.
Big George was one of a kind. He redeemed himself several times in his life, he was a larger than life character in and out of the ring. Very entertaining guy. Somewhat hidden private life though.
100 million units.
I’m not a fan of boxing, but am a fan of grilled foods. He’s survived by his sons* George, George, George, George, and George. I wonder which one will carry on the family business.
*He also has seven daughters, but none of them are named George.
That “walking uppercut” he used was devastating. He’d walk towards his opponent with his hands down like he was going to start sparring and then launch that uppercut in mid-stride. I think one fighter described his jab as being hit with a tree trunk.