George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. He was 76.

Foreman’s family announced his death on social media.

“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,” his family wrote. “A humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, 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.”

A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt in one of the greatest fights ever staged.

Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening.

He then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history in 1994, flooring Michael Moorer — 19 years his junior — with one perfect combination to claim Moorer’s two heavyweight belts.

Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.

He was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, a simple cooking machine which sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did.

College wrestling

Gophers’ McEnelly, Steveson advance

Minnesota’s Max McEnelly and Gable Steveson are both into the semifinals, and Vance VomBaur and Tommy Askey are bound for the Blood Round after Session III of the 2025 NCAA Championships concluded Friday afternoon in Philadelphia.

McEnelly and Steveson each claimed All-America honors for their performances, a first for McEnelly, a redshirt freshman. Steveson becomes the first in Gophers’ history to become a five-time All-American.

— Staff report

College hockey

Tommies lose to Mavericks in CCHA final

The St. Thomas men’s hockey team lost 4-2 to Minnesota State on Friday in the CCHA Mason Cup championship.

Matthew Gleason and Liam Malmquist scored for St. Thomas (19-14-5), while goaltender Jake Sibell had 31 saves.

Alex Tracy had 29 saves for the Mavericks. Luigi Benincasa, Kaden Bohlsen, Evan Murr and Josh Groll scored for Minnesota State (27-8-3).

— Staff report

GOLF

Bridgeman leads Valspar

Jacob Bridgeman has a one-shot lead and a host of others were right behind going into the weekend at Innisbrook at the Valspar Championship.

Bridgeman was among several players atop the leaderboard on an unseasonably chilly day until the Copperhead course bit back at some point. He had a two-shot lead until missing a par putt from 4 feet on the 18th hole. That gave him a 2-under 69.

Bridgeman was at 6-under 136. Viktor Hovland (67), Byeong Hun An (67) and Ryo Hisatsune (66) were one shot back.

Football

Rodgers visits Steelers, leaves without signing

Aaron Rodgers might still want to play football. He might even do it in Pittsburgh.

The four-time NFL MVP met with the Steelers on Friday, a person with knowledge of the visit told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the meeting was not made public. Rodgers spent several hours in the team’s facility gathering information but left without signing a contract.

Baseball

Urías suspended through the All-Star break

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players’ association.

Urías had pleaded no contest last May to one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. The penalty was the second for Urías under the policy following a 20-game suspension in 2019. MLB said he will be reinstated from the restricted list on July 17.

A 28-year-old left-hander, Urías has not pitched since Sept. 1, 2023. He was arrested two days later outside BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where he had attended a Major League Soccer game on Sept. 3 involving Inter Miami and Lionel Messi. The Department of Public Safety said it was contacted by someone, whose name was not publicly identified, regarding a physical altercation between a man and a woman.

Urías initially was given a felony charge of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, and he was placed on administrative leave by MLB that Sept. 6.

References to ‘diversity’ removed from MLB page

Major League Baseball removed references to “diversity” from its MLB Careers home page following an executive order by President Donald Trump that could lead to possible federal action against organizations using DEI programs in violation of his administration’s interpretation of civil rights law.

“Our values on diversity remain unchanged,” MLB said in a statement Friday. “We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward.”

Briefly

NFL >> The New York Giants and quarterback Jameis Winston agreed to terms on a two-year, $8 million contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

— From news services