God, Grills, and George Foreman

Dillon Wall
Jun 14
5 min read

Updated: Jul 6

A boxer and grill against a golden backdrop with a glowing cross. Moody and intense with "George Foreman" text on grill.

From brawling in the ring, preaching, and selling his story, George Foreman is a household name that has changed the lives of millions. With a major motion picture film about him and his recent loss, I think it’s the perfect time to look back on one of the greatest legacies in modern American culture.

The Beginning

Boxer holding a U.S. flag, arm raised triumphantly. Vivid colors with abstract background, shadows of other boxers evoke victory and pride.

Before he grabbed the attention of the world, George Foreman was forged in Houston’s Fifth Ward, one of the toughest neighborhoods in America. He didn’t fight for belts, but because he didn’t have a choice. After joining the Job Corps, a federal program to reform the “unreformable,” Foreman met a boxing coach who showed him how to redirect his anger and within a few years, he was standing on the podium at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics with a gold medal and American flag in his hands.

But, Foreman would continue to show his dominance, taking on Joe Frazier- the same man who had beat Muhammad Ali less than two years prior in one of the greatest boxing matches in history. Foreman made quick work of Frazier, knocking him down six times in just two rounds. Frazier didn’t just win, he made a statement. The fight won the 1973 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.

He didn’t talk much back then. His hulking presence, punching power, and silence did all the talking.

He defended the belt twice, but neither of those bouts had anything on what was to come next: The Rumble in the Jungle, 1974 in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

The Rumble in the Jungle

This was a world event where the two most powerful symbols in Afro-American culture squared off in Africa with dictator Mobutu Sese Seko paying the bills and using the platform to legitimize his regime to the world stage.

Ali framed the event as a return to the motherland. Foreman was easily framed as the villain due to his cold demeanor, and also because Ali knew exactly how to play the crowd. James Brown and B.B. King performed there and parades chanted “Ali, bomaye!” (”Ali, Kill him!”). The tension was in the air.

Two boxers in a ring, one jabbing, both wearing red gloves. A vibrant, abstract crowd and flag with a torch emblem in the background.

When the bell rung, Ali shocked everyone. He leaned against the ropes absorbing Foreman’s deadly blows- a technique later called rope-a-dope. Foreman gassed himself out, throwing his thunderous punches at Ali landing some clean shots stunning Ali, but also hitting the guard or missing entirely which ended up leaving Foreman exhausted. Ali continued to dance and taunt Foreman.

“Is that all you got, George?”

In the eighth round, Ali saw the opening and struck Foreman with a right hand that dropped the champ like a tree crashing to the ground.

On the biggest fight of the 20th century, Foreman’s aura was shattered- going from invincible to vulnerable.

The Fall and Resurrection

The loss to Ali left Foreman unraveled. In the next few years, Foreman beat some contenders and lost some close fights. But one thing was for sure- he was not the same.

Then came 1977. Foreman lost to Jimmy Young by decision in a slug fest, but it wasn’t the loss that mattered. It’s what happened after.

Backstage, in a haze, Foreman collapsed. He claimed he felt like he was dying. Heart pounding, slipping in and out of consciousness, he had a vision. He felt the presence of God.

Whether you believe in divine intervention or not, this night changed the rest of his life. He retired from boxing and walked away from everything.

For the next decade, Foreman disappeared from the limelight. He built a church and a youth center. He began preaching in impoverished neighborhoods like the one he grew up in. No cameras or endorsements. Just George and a Bible.

He was no longer fighting opponents in the ring, he was battling demons- his own and the ones he saw in the kids he helped.

But Foreman still had a fire burning.

The Return

Boxer celebrating with a championship belt raised, joyful expression. Blue and orange hues, ring and cheering crowd in background.

The world laughed when Foreman announced his return to boxing in 1987. A 260 pound 38 year old washed up has been coming back to boxing after 10 years?

But what no one understood was that George Foreman wasn’t trying to relive his past or make some quick money. He was rewriting history.

Foreman made his comeback with an eerie calm, beating up a string of journeymen- younger, faster guys. But Foreman walked through them, and the world stopped laughing. By the early ‘90s, he had made his way back to title contention. He lost a close fight to Evander Holyfield in 1991, but he went the distance. At 42 years of age, he pushed a prime champ to the edge.

But George wasn’t done yet.

On November 5, 1994, George Foreman- now 45 years old- stepped into the ring against the undefeated champion, Michael Moorer. Foreman was a 3-1 underdog going into the dight. And the odds were looking to be in Moorer's favor, controlling most of the fight. For nine straight rounds, it looked like a clinic with Moorer showing his youth, speed, and sharpness.

Then came the tenth.

No setup. No feints. Just a single right hand.

Boom.

Moorer dropped. Foreman didn’t celebrate. He walked straight to his corner and bent a knee as if his prayers were answered.

He was now the oldest heavyweight champion in history. 45 years old. A preacher, father, and fighter resurrected. In a sport where the young eat the old, Foreman defied the odds showing the world that it is never too late.

The Brand. The Grill. George Foreman.

After reclaiming the heavyweight title at 45, Foreman reinvented himself and became a cultural fixture not for his fists, but for his face. He was everywhere. Then came the grill.

The George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine. It sounds like a joke, which it sort of was… at first.

But America loved it. Over 100 million units sold. Foreman was selling his narrative and made more money from the grills than from boxing- reportedly over $200 million.

And Foreman kept going. Infomercials, books, reality TV. He launched a clothing line, showed up on late-night shows and commercials and churches, always smiling, all the while continuing to preach and run his youth center.

Foreman didn’t just reinvent himself but also the stigma around aging athletes. He showed that they could age without disappearing.

Legacy

George Foreman didn’t just live a good life. He lived two.

Most fighters are remembered for their highlight reels. And sure, his fists made him famous, but it’s what came after that eternalized him.

George Foreman is one of the all time greatest athletes. A legacy that rivals many. A gentle giant. A man who rebuilt himself. A symbol that it’s never too late. And a man that will live on eternally.