George Foreman died on Friday at the much‑too‑young age of 76. His aura of strength was such that there were times when it seemed as though he’d live for ever.
People know about George Foreman the fighter and George Foreman the product pitchman; holding a small American flag in the ring after winning a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics; dethroning Joe Frazier in Jamaica; losing the title to Muhammad Ali in Zaire; the quixotic ring comeback that culminated in a 10th-round knockout of Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight crown; and George Foreman’s Lean Mean Grilling Machine, which earned him more than $100m. I lived through those times. But I was also privileged to know George as a person.
