Sports
Former heavyweight boxing champion, George Foreman is dead
His family announced that he died peacefully on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones,” his family said in a statement posted on the boxer’s official Instagram page.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.”
Meteoric Rise to Boxing Greatness
Born in 1949 in Houston, Texas, Foreman overcame a challenging upbringing, finding direction through the Job Corps program, where he discovered boxing.
“At 13 years old, George was about 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and the terrorist in the neighbourhood,” his younger brother Roy told the BBC in 2024.
“And when you’re bigger and stronger and think you’re better than everyone else, you take things.”
Foreman’s athletic prowess became evident when he won a gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
At 19, he bulldozed his way to the super-heavyweight gold, waving an American flag in the ring just days after Tommie Smith and John Carlos made their historic Black Power salute.
Standing at 6-foot-4 (1.93m) and known as ‘Big George,’ he was an imposing figure in the heavyweight division.
His devastating power and agility saw him rise quickly through the professional ranks. In 1973, he captured the heavyweight title by annihilating Joe Frazier in just two rounds.
“Rumble in the Jungle”
By the time Foreman defended his title against Muhammad Ali in October 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), he was an unbeaten force with a 40-0 record.
Ali’s infamous ‘rope-a-dope’ strategy wore him down, and Foreman, exhausted, succumbed in the eighth round.
“I just couldn’t believe I’d lost the world title,” he later admitted.
“It was the most embarrassing moment of my life. It went from pride to pity. That’s devastating.”
Ali, the three-time heavyweight champion died earlier in 2016 at 74.
After a points loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman fell ill and experienced what he described as a divine revelation.
Convinced he had a higher calling, he retired at 28 and became an ordained minister.
Bald and heavier, he was dismissed as a sideshow, but he proved his critics wrong.
Over the next three years, he fought 21 times, mostly against lesser opponents, winning every bout—20 by knockout.
Historic Second Championship at 45
In 1991, Foreman challenged Evander Holyfield for the heavyweight title but lost on points.
Two years later, he suffered another decision loss to Tommy Morrison.
However, in November 1994, wearing the same shorts he had donned 20 years earlier against Ali, Foreman shocked the world.
Trailing badly, he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round to reclaim the heavyweight championship at 45 years and 299 days old—making him the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
Though he was later stripped of his WBA and IBF titles for refusing to fight mandatory challengers, he remained the ‘lineal’ world champion.
He continued fighting until 1997, losing his final bout to Shannon Briggs at 48. Foreman retired with an astonishing 76-5 record, including 68 knockouts.
Life Beyond Boxing
Foreman successfully transitioned from sports icon to entrepreneur, most famously as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which sold over 100 million units worldwide.
His charm and affability in advertisements turned him into a household name beyond boxing.
A devoted preacher, he hosted the 1996 TV program Bad Dads, emphasizing the importance of fatherhood.
He was married four times and had 12 children.
His five sons were all named George Edward Foreman, a decision he explained as, “If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, we all go down together!”
Legacy Cemented in Boxing History
Foreman’s impact on boxing and beyond remains indelible.
A two-time heavyweight champion, an Olympic gold medalist, a minister, an entrepreneur, and a loving family man—his life was one of triumph, redemption, and reinvention.
As the world mourns his passing, his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time remains firmly intact.
A football referee in Brazil has reportedly issued 51 red cards following a mass brawl involving players and officials during a youth football match between Uberlandia and Mamore.
The incident occurred during a Minas Gerais Under-20 Second Division encounter on Sunday, with the confrontation reportedly lasting about 40 minutes before military police intervened.
According to Brazilian newspaper O Tempo, the violence erupted in the 54th minute after Mamore player Davi allegedly taunted the opposing team’s bench while celebrating his side’s third goal.
The situation reportedly escalated when Uberlandia’s goalkeeping coach, Paulo Sérgio Dias Dos Santos, ran onto the pitch to confront the player.
A video of the incident, which went viral on Thursday, showed the scale of the chaotic confrontation.
Chairs and stretchers were allegedly used as weapons during the melee, while the referee’s report claimed that ball boys representing Uberlandia also joined the violence, throwing punches and kicks.
The match official, Drosghic Modesto, further alleged that he received death threats and other threats of violence from different individuals following the incident. He subsequently filed a police report over the threats.
The match was suspended for 40 minutes before it was eventually abandoned.
The referee reportedly issued 51 red cards, comprising 43 players and eight members of the two teams’ technical crews.
According to Guinness World Records, the previous record for the highest number of red cards in a single football match was 36, recorded during an Argentine Primera D fixture in 2011.
The latest incident has drawn attention to the disturbing level of violence that can erupt during football matches.
Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41, bringing an end to his 23-year career with the national team.
Ronaldo announced his decision on Thursday in a video shared on his official Instagram account, expressing gratitude to the Portuguese people for their support throughout his international career.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made 234 appearances for Portugal, scoring 146 goals to become the country’s all-time leading scorer and the highest goalscorer in men’s international football.
In his retirement message, Ronaldo said it was time to hand over the iconic number seven jersey to the next generation of Portuguese players.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons players have received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each, while members of the technical crew and officials received $50,000 each, following the fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s financial pledge to the team for winning the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The National Sports Commission (NSC) announced the payment in a statement on Monday, describing it as the completion of the financial component of the presidential reward package for the team’s record-extending 10th continental title.
The players had earlier received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja, alongside certificates of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, commended President Tinubu for fulfilling his promise, describing the gesture as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to recognising sporting excellence.
“The Super Falcons made Nigeria proud, and Mr President has honoured his commitment to them in full. This means a great deal to the team and to Nigerian sports,” Dikko said.
He expressed appreciation to the President for ensuring that the promised rewards were delivered within a short period.
The commission attributed the successful payment to collaboration between the NSC and the Ministries of Finance, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development.
Dikko noted that the fulfilment of the promise represented a departure from previous experiences in which Nigerian athletes had to wait several years before receiving rewards announced by the government.
He urged Nigerian athletes to draw encouragement from the development, assuring them that their sacrifices and achievements would be recognised.
The Super Falcons clinched their 10th WAFCON title in July 2025 after staging a remarkable comeback from two goals down to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final in Rabat.
Tinubu announced the reward package during a presidential reception for the team on July 28, 2025, promising each player the naira equivalent of $100,000 and members of the technical crew $50,000 each.
He also promised the team three-bedroom apartments and national honours.
The development follows a similar reward arrangement for Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, whose players received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each in September 2026 after winning their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025.
Members of the basketball team’s technical crew and officials also received $50,000 each, alongside housing documents and OON certificates.
In December 2025, the Federal Government also presented housing title documents and national honours to members of the Super Eagles following their silver-medal finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
…Beats Mbappe, Yamal after remarkable 73-goal season
England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first English footballer in 25 years to claim football’s most prestigious individual award.
Kane received the honour at a ceremony in London on Monday night, beating Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, who finished second and third respectively.
The 33-year-old striker secured the award following an extraordinary campaign in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, establishing himself as one of the world’s most prolific forwards.
His victory ends England’s long wait for the coveted prize, with former Liverpool and Manchester United striker Michael Owen being the last Englishman to win it in 2001.
Kane also joins an exclusive list of English winners, including Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.
An emotional Kane, who received the trophy from Brazilian football legend Ronaldo, described the achievement as a dream come true.
“Wow, I’m almost speechless,” he said while accepting the award.
He expressed appreciation to Bayern Munich, the England national team and his former club Tottenham Hotspur for their contributions to his football journey.
Reflecting on his rise from difficult loan spells to becoming the world’s best footballer, Kane encouraged young players never to abandon their ambitions.
“For any young boy or girl who wants to achieve their dream, anything is possible,” he said.
The England captain’s achievement attracted widespread congratulations, including tributes from England manager Thomas Tuchel and Prince William.
Tuchel described the recognition as richly deserved, saying Kane’s exceptional performances had finally received the global acknowledgement they merited.
Prince William also hailed Kane as a remarkable player and inspirational captain who had given football supporters unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal claimed the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas secured her third Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Kane completed a memorable night by also winning the Men’s Striker of the Year award.
Other winners included Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who emerged as Men’s Coach of the Year, while Paris Saint-Germain claimed the Men’s Club of the Year award.
Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award in recognition of his humanitarian contributions.
2026 Ballon d’Or Top 10
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid/France
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona/Spain
Rodri – Manchester City/Barcelona/Spain
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami/Argentina
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – PSG/Georgia
Ousmane Dembele – PSG/France
Erling Haaland – Manchester City/Norway
Michael Olise – Bayern Munich/France
Fabian Ruiz – PSG/Spain
Kane’s triumph represents another milestone in a remarkable career that has seen him rise from Tottenham’s academy to become one of the most celebrated goalscorers in world football.
By Chinedu Adonu
The 9th edition of the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly and ALGON Grassroots Boxing Talent Hunt has produced five new talents for national and international competitions.
The 2026 finals, held at the premises of the Post Primary Schools Management Board, PPSMB, Enugu, saw the emergence of Maxwell Anikwe, 50kg, Nkanu West; Jude Ugwuanyi, 60kg, Nsukka; Hilary Favour, 55kg, female, Enugu North; Peter Abonyi, 50kg, Isi-Uzo; and Kingsley Ossai, 49kg, Isi-Uzo.
Declaring the championship open, the South-East Coordinator of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Bernard Ezema, commended the Speaker and ALGON for promoting grassroots boxing, saying such initiatives provide platforms for discovering athletes for local and international competitions.
“The grassroots is where we get our talents. We appreciate the Speaker’s effort and vision,” Ezema said, urging the young boxers to strive for mastery.
Also, the Chairman of PPSMB, Rev. Fr. Hilary Mgbodile, commended the Speaker for his interest in catching young talents early, noting that the board partnered with the programme to ensure its success.
The sponsor of the talent hunt, Hon. Uche Ugwu, said Enugu had a large pool of youths who needed to be discovered and empowered through sports.
“Boxing is a very lucrative business just like football. Talents are there waiting and we want to harness them,” he said.
Coordinator of the Speaker’s ENHA Grassroots Boxing event, Mazi Ikechukwu Okonkwo, said the programme had, over the years, provided a platform where young athletes could combine passion with discipline.
He said boxing promotes physical fitness, self-control and self-defence, while also providing career and financial opportunities for talented youths.
“Boxing can take a young athlete from local streets to international arenas, creating sustainable livelihoods and lifting whole families out of tough circumstances,” Okonkwo said.
One of the newly discovered talents, Ugwuanyi, said he had developed a strong interest in boxing and identified late boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, as his role model.
Favour, the female discovery from Enugu North, said although boxing was often seen as unusual for girls, she had nursed the ambition to become a boxer from childhood.
She said boxer Makintosh inspired her interest in the sport and expressed her determination to pursue a career in boxing.
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