George Foreman remembered his legendary stint in the ring with Muhammad Ali in one of his final social media posts before his death.
The two-time heavyweight boxing champion and famed pitchman, who died at age 76 on March 21, celebrated a few of his boxing anniversaries in the months leading up to his death — including the 50th anniversary of his historic 1974 match with the late Ali back in October 2024.
At the time, Foreman shared a celebratory snap on Instagram featuring himself with a plate of cake, as he reflected in the post’s caption on the fight dubbed “the Rumble in the Jungle.”
“Can you believe 50 years ago, the ‘Rumble in the Jungle,’ fighting Muhammad Ali,” the Olympic gold medalist wrote. “Looking back at the best time of my life — celebrate with me with a slice of cake, as I relive the ‘Rope-a-Dope.’ ”
The fight, which was at one point believed to be the most-watched live television broadcast — didn’t necessarily go how Foreman would’ve wanted back in 1974.
Ali, who was 32 at the time, faced off against the younger Foreman, then 25, for his heavyweight title in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) — ultimately winning by knockout against the then-undefeated Foreman in the eighth round.
During the fight, Ali used his “rope-a-dope” strategy to lean against the ropes and essentially tire out his opponent, before famously taking him down.
Foreman has recounted different versions of the match throughout the years, noting in the past that he wished the pair had a rematch.
“For years afterward I would agonize, ‘How could this happen?’ ” he told Vogue Man Arabia in 2019. “That night I lost everything I ever was. It was the most devastating event in my life as an athlete. I was not even a man no more.”
In a separate conversation with CBS News, Foreman revealed that he “thought I would knock him out in one or two rounds.”
“But in the third round, I’d hit him and he fell on me and I thought, ‘That’s it.’ And he started screaming, ‘That’s all you got George, show me something,'” Foreman recalled of Ali. “And I knew then I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
In the years to follow, Foreman and Ali became friends. Foreman eventually retired from boxing in 1977 but returned to the sport a decade later, reclaiming his championship in 1994. He then retired for good in 1999. (And, amid it all, he famously launched the George Foreman Grill in 1994.)
On March 21, Foreman’s family shared a message on his official Instagram account announcing his death.
“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,” the note read.
Among those who’ve paid tribute to the late boxing great include fellow fighter Mike Tyson, who shared a message on his X account.
“Condolences to George Foreman’s family. His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten,” Tyson, 58, wrote, sharing two images of the pair throughout the years.
Scottie Pippen, Robert Griffin III, Loni Love, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and others also shared messages and memories on social media in his honor.
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