George Foreman, Boxing Legend and Icon, Dies at 76   

• George Foreman wasn’t just a heavyweight champ. He was a fighter, a preacher, a father of 12, and somehow, the face of one of the most popular kitchen appliances ever made. He died on March 21, aged 76, after living a life full of unexpected twists. Foreman had a troubled childhood, growing up fighting on the streets of Houston, but his life turned around when he discovered boxing. By age 19, Foreman was on the 1968 Summer Olympic podium with a gold medal. A few years later, he knocked out Joe Frazier and became the heavyweight champion. But his most famous fight was probably the one he lost ? the “Rumble in the Jungle” against Muhammad Ali in 1974. Foreman had been the favorite, but Ali beat him with patience, strategy, and the now-famous “rope-a-dope” move. A few years after that match, Foreman retired and became a minister. But 10 years later, in 1987, he returned to the sport to raise money for his youth center. In 1994, at age 45, he shocked everyone by becoming the oldest-ever heavyweight champion. And then came the grill. The George Foreman Grill sold millions with its cheesy slogans and easy cooking. Foreman made more money from that little device than in the ring. Foreman’s life wasn’t perfect. However, it was full of second chances and turnarounds. Foreman was living proof that it’s never too late to change your story ? and that sometimes, the comeback is even better than the original fight. May For The Teen Times teen/1744099714/1613367697