George Foreman's Biography

George Foreman was born on 10 January 1949 in Marshall, Texas.

Foreman described his upbringing: "My area, the Fifth Ward, was known as the bloody fifth because on the weekends somebody was always getting stabbed, shot, or killed. I wanted to be one of the tough guys ..."

After only eighteen amateur fights, Foreman won gold in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He turned professional the following year.

George Foreman defeated Joe Frazier to become the world heavyweight champion in 1973. In 1974, however, in what became known as 'The Rumble in the Jungle', George Foreman lost his title to Muhammad Ali.

George Foreman has an interesting take on the fight. He told The Observer:

"But then in Zaire, for the first time, I got what I always strived for: no fear. I stepped in the ring happy, almost like a joke, and it didn't bother me. And I lost. So that fear was a necessity. I didn't realise how important it was."

'Big' George retired from boxing a few years later, after losing a fight to Jimmy Young, and became a preacher. George Foreman did not leave boxing forever. He managed a points loss to Evander Holyfield in 1991 and then - to the amazement of nearly everyone - he regained the world title, knocking out Michael Moorer in 1994.

At 45 he had become the oldest ever heavyweight champion, but then retired for a second time a few years later.

Nowadays, George Foreman is well known for his brand of grills, clothes and cleaning products, including the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine.