Diksha Sundriyal
Chronicling the life and achievements of the titular two-time heavyweight champion, ‘Big George Foreman’ delivers an inspiring tale of perseverance and hard work. The film begins with a young George Foreman living in poverty with his family, where his mother is the sole provider. It’s tough for her to make ends meet, and he struggles to keep his anger in check, often leading to him falling into trouble at school and other places.
Despite George’s challenges, his mother and siblings always encourage him to become a better person and focus on his untapped potential. Eventually, things turn around for the family when he becomes a boxer and starts winning one fight after another, and he never forgets to care for the family that supported him through thick and thin. If you want to find out more about the real-life George Foreman’s mother and siblings, here’s what you should know.
Nancy Foreman Died of Natural Causes in 1998
George Foreman grew up in the care of his mother, Nancy Foreman. She died on December 14, 1998, in Houston, Texas, at 78 and was laid to rest at Paradise North Cemetery in Houston. Born in June 1920 in Harrison, Texas, Nancy was the daughter of William and Addie Nelson. Her father was a sharecropper, and she worked in the fields with him to help with the work and put the food on the table. Due to this, Nancy would have to leave the school, which hindered her education. She gave birth to George on January 10, 1949.
George’s biological father was Leroy Moorehead, but when he was little, his mother married J.D. Foreman, whose surname was given to him. Due to the lack of job opportunities, Nancy and J.D. moved to Houston. However, a few years after George’s birth, he left, and she had to raise her seven children alone. Nancy knew the importance of a good education and encouraged her children to do better at school and not stir any trouble that might create problems for them. According to George, she had unbelievable spelling and math skills.
Nancy was intent on getting her children the opportunities she didn’t get. When George decided to join Job Corps, she encouraged him to do his best. Later, when he decided to become a boxer, his mother discouraged him from it. She worried that her son had a temper — it had always landed him in trouble, and she worried the same might happen with boxing. “My mum knew, she always feared my temper, she didn’t want me to play football, anything. She said, ‘Boy, you’ve got too much of a temper.’ She never watched me do a boxing match, period,” Foreman revealed. Despite Nancy’s disapproval of his career choice, she supported her son no matter what.
Roy Leads a Clothing Brand, Other Foreman Siblings Prefer to Stay Private
While George Foreman has become a household name, his siblings have stayed away from the limelight as they prefer to enjoy their privacy. He had six siblings; out of them, only Roy Foreman has been in the spotlight. The film focuses more on their sister, Mary Dumas, to whom George feels the closest. His other sister, Gloria Ann Foreman Patrick, died on November 9, 2020. She was preceded in death by their sister, Willie May, and brothers Robert and Kenneth Wayne.
Roy is married to Verna Foreman and is “regarded as a leading voice in the boxing industry,” which he has been involved in for 25 years. He joined George during his boxing career and worked as his manager through his championship titles. Roy served on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Committee and was appointed America’s Ambassador for Sports by the U.S. State Department. He has also worked as the ringside announcer for HBO Sports. Roy has a sports clothing brand and other stuff called Foreman Gear and has hosted a show on Comcast Network for eight years. Apart from this, he is involved with several philanthropic projects and non-profit organizations.
Read More: Is Paula Foreman Based on George Foreman’s Ex-Wife? Where is She Now?
