One of the greatest men to ever walk the face of the Earth, Houston-born George Foreman, passed away on March 21, 2025, at 76 years old. The world said goodbye to one of its greatest just a little over two weeks ago. My heart is broken.
The three kings are now gone: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and most recently, George Foreman. The world feels empty without them. All three were larger than life and far larger than boxing. It was priviledge for all of us to live in their time. They were bright lights in a very cruel world.
There has been so much chaos in the news over the past couple of weeks that many missed the fact that this larger-than-life legend just left this life. Apparently, he died of natural causes. Towards the end of this tribute, I will share one of George Foreman’s quotes that went largely unnoticed, but it might be one of the greatest quotes ever spoken. It was a quote about Muhammad Ali at 38 years old after his fight with Larry Holmes in 1980, highlighting how it was Ali’s worst boxing performance ever. Don’t miss that quote. It’s a life-changing kind of quote for all of us as we move through life.
“Some beings are so lit up on the inside that they shine on their exterior. George Foreman was like that.”
– Scott Smith –
Most people think of George Foreman as the legendary boxer, especially remembering the “Rumble in the Jungle” against Muhammad Ali in 1974. Foreman was one of the greatest boxers of all time, winning the heavyweight championship of the world at just 24 years old in 1973.. But as Foreman said to Gayle King in a CBS interview eight years ago, he was really a preacher and minister moonlighting as a boxer and grill salesman. Foreman was a man of the people. A man of the community. He spent his whole life being positive, smiling, and lifting people’s spirits.
Throughout George’s life, most people just wanted to talk to him about Muhammad Ali.. One would think he would’ve gotten tired of it, but George never did. He was always gracious when people asked about Muhammad Ali. The reason is because George felt the same way about Ali as the rest of the world did. George said that he wished everyone had a chance to meet Ali, so they could see and feel his presence.
Here is a perfect example of how positive George Foreman actually was: In 1989, at a press conference in London with Ali and Frazier, Foreman, at 40 years old, said, “I’m going to prove to the whole world that age 40 is not a death sentence at all.” Fast forward to the 11:20 minute mark of the video to hear him say that. And wouldn’t you know it, just 5 years later, at 45 years old, George Foreman became the heavyweight champion of the world again and the oldest person to ever win the heavyweight championship title.
Foreman’s boxing life was that of a giant. But, let’s remember, this is also the man who created the George Foreman Grill; one of the most successful products of all time.
I have written many times that to me, Muhammad Ali was the greatest man to ever walk the face of the Earth.. Well, also to me, George Foreman might be the second greatest man to ever walk the face of the Earth.. Well, either him or Smoking Joe Frazier. These three men were literally kings. But not tyrannical types of kings. They were kings of boxing and humanity as a whole. It is no surprise a documentary was made about their lives in 1996: “When We Were Kings.”
Now, I will share with you one of the greatest quotes I have ever heard in my life. The reason Foreman said what he said is because the media was really coming down on Ali for taking such a beating from Larry Holmes in 1980. The media was referring to him like he was a “has-been” or something. Did they forget that he came out of retirement for that fight at 38 years old? And back then, 38 was very old for a boxer. But more importantly, did the media forget what this man did for the world? Did the media forget that Ali was the people’s champion?
Well, George Foreman did not forget who Muhammad Ali was and will always be. And below is what he said, referring to Ali after that loss:
“Heroes will always be beautiful because of what they’ve done.”
– George Foreman –
To me, that is one of the greatest quotes in history, said by one of the greatest men in history, about the GREATEST man in history. This quote above is for all of us as we age through life. Pass Foreman’s quote alone. It makes people feel better.
George Foreman lived one of the fullest lives a man could live. But, at the end of the day the most important work he did throughout his life was that of a preacher and minister at the “Church of the Lord Jesus Christ,” which he founded in 1980.
Sincerely,
Scott Smtih