Mike Tyson, sports stars and more pay tribute to boxing great George Foreman | George Foreman

Boxing greats and sports stars from around the globe have paid tribute to world heavyweight champion, George Foreman, who died on Friday aged 76.

The death of the boxing Hall of Famer and entrepreneur was announced by Foreman’s family on his Instagram account.

“A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world,” the post read. “He was deeply respected – a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name – for his family.”

Mike Tyson, a fellow heavyweight champion who never faced Foreman in the ring, led the tributes with a heartfelt post on X that included two photos of the pair together.

“Condolences to George Foreman’s family. His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten,” Tyson said.

Foreman knocked down titleholder Joe Frazier six times in a punishing two rounds to claim the WBC and WBA heavyweight belts, and become heavyweight champion for the first time, in January 1973.

Mauricio Sulaimán, the current World Boxing Council president, said Foreman was a “legendary boxing champion, life changing preacher, husband, father, grand and great grandfather and the best friend you could have”.

“His memory is now eternal, may Big George rest in peace,” Sulaimán added on X.

Bob Arum, a leading boxing promoter and Top Rank chairperson, said: “George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family. We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.”

The fearsome heavyweight twice defended his crown before being dismantled by returning champion Muhammad Ali in the legendary Rumble in the Jungle bout in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 1974.

Turki Alalshikh, a key figure in the recent rise of boxing in Saudi Arabia as chairperson of the kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority, posted a touching photo on X of a smiling Foreman seated between Frazier and Ali.

“Sad news for me and the boxing world … The last boxing pillar for an unforgettable era has passed away today,” Alalshikh said.

Foreman’s legacy transcends the sport of boxing: he became an inspirational figure as a devout preacher, entrepreneur and occasional actor.

As the face of the George Foreman Grill, which he launched in the same year as he defeated Michael Moorer to win the world heavyweight title for the second time in 1994, Foreman made more money from selling 100m units than in his three decades in the ring.

Basketball great Charles Barkley reflected on his experiences meeting Foreman with a moving tribute during TNT’s NCAA tournament coverage.

“I got to know Mr Foreman a little bit seeing him at all the boxing matches and I always picked his brain about trying to be an entrepreneur when your career is over,” Barkley said. “He was obviously one of the greatest boxers ever, but just a gentle man, he was a pastor. It just hurts, man. Plain and simple, nothing else I can say.

“My condolences to his family. I’m shook up right now because that caught me so off guard.”

Fellow basketballer Magic Johnson also expressed his condolences: “I attended so many of George’s championship fights over his career. He was a knockout artist in the ring, and it was a pleasure getting to know him not only as a boxer but as a man.

“After leaving the ring, he turned into an amazing businessman – I even bought one of the first George Foreman grills.”

And Chuck D, frontman of rap icons Public Enemy, remembered Foreman with a warming portrait posted on X.