UPDATED: 12:51 p.m. EDT, March 11 — Freeda Foreman’s death has been ruled a suicide, according to a new report. The 42-year-old daughter of boxing legend George Foreman was found dead on Saturday.
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It “appears she hanged herself,” TMZ reported. “A final determination on the cause of death will be made by a coroner, but law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation tell us that Freeda appears to have died by asphyxiation.”
Original story:
Freeda Foreman, the daughter of former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, died Saturday. Foreman, 42, was reportedly found unresponsive inside her Houston-area home. Condolences to the family have flooded social media.
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A family member discovered her body, according to TMZ, which was one of the first news outlets to report her death. Investigators said they do not suspect foul play, and they are waiting for the coroner’s report on the cause of her death.
Like her famous father, Freeda Foreman was a professional boxer, launching her career in 2000. In the ring, she was an imposing figure for a woman boxer, standing at 5 feet 11 inches tall, according to The Ring. She had a total of six professional fights and ended her career with a 5 -1 record, which included three knockouts.
Foreman entered professional boxing at a time when the daughters of other famous 1970s heavyweight champions also joined the sport. Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, and Joe Frazier’s daughter Jacqui Frazier-Lyde competed professionally at the same time.
Foreman dreamed of fighting Laila Ali, to avenge her father’s lost to Muhammad Ali in the ionic 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” match, in which Ali defeated George Foreman.
Foreman recalled that her father did not want any of his children to follow in his footsteps.
“Dad never wanted any of his kids to see him fight. He always protected us from that world,” she said in a 2000 interview with the London Mirror. “With five brothers, there were plenty of fights at home. When Dad was home, we’d run around the house, play fighting and I’d beat up on my three younger brothers!”
One of her brothers, George III, also turned professional, earning a 16 – 0 record with 15 knockouts. It’s believed his father persuaded him in 2012 to quit the sport before challenging any top fighters.
George Foreman, 70, won an Olympic gold medal in boxing in 1968. The former heavyweight champion had a successful professional career that included, in addition to Ali, matches against Frazier and Ken Norton. After he retired from the ring, Foreman became a successful TV pitchman and marketer of products, including his George Foreman grills.
Freeda Foreman, a Texas native, was one of George Foreman’s five daughters. He also has five sons, all named George. She’s survived by her husband and two daughters.
NewsOne joins those sending their condolences to George Foreman and his family at this tragic time.
