George Foreman’s life in pictures Find help us

George Foreman, the boxing heavyweight legend, has died aged 76, his family said.

Known as Big George in the ring, the American competed for decades starting in the 1960s, winning gold at the Olympics and numerous title belts, including the world heavyweight title twice.

In his autobiography, he said he was waving the flag “as much for myself as for the country”.

“I was letting everyone know who I was and at the same time saying that I was proud to be an American.”

He once called the loss the “most embarrassing moment” of his life.

“I just couldn’t believe I’d lost the world title”, he said, adding: “It went from pride to pity. That’s devastating.

His opponent, Foreman said, was “the toughest human being I ever had an encounter with”.

He told the BBC his defeat to Ali became the “best thing that ever happened to me” as it ultimately led him to “get my message out” through preaching.