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George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76
George Foreman. (AFP/File)
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Updated 22 March 2025

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

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 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 rudimentary cooking machine which sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did.


Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle hopeful for a win over Pyramids FC

Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle hopeful for a win over Pyramids FC
Updated 23 sec ago

Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle hopeful for a win over Pyramids FC

Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle hopeful for a win over Pyramids FC
  • Sides meet in crucial Africa–Asia–Pacific Cup game
  • Matthias Jaissle wants to bring ‘joy’ to the club’s fans

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli’s coach Matthias Jaissle faces a tough matchup against Egypt’s Pyramids FC on Tuesday and is hopeful his side will emerge victorious.

The teams are meeting in the Africa–Asia–Pacific Cup, part of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025.

At a press conference on Monday Jaissle said he wanted fans to feel the same way they did when the team won the AFC Champions League.

“It is a special day for Ƶ and I hope our fans leave the stadium with joy,” said the German.

Pyramids’ Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic said: “I am very happy and extremely proud of the stage my team has reached, playing for the title of the Intercontinental Cup of the three continents.

“This is a very important step in the history of Pyramids, a club that has now reached the world stage in a very short period of time.”

He added: “This is another challenge against a strong opponent. I have watched their last two matches in the AFC Champions League and the Saudi league, and they showed great strength and strong reactions.

“But in the end, I have full confidence in my players and their ability to win.”


The Ryder Cup is off to an emotional start for Team USA

The Ryder Cup is off to an emotional start for Team USA
Updated 44 min 18 sec ago

The Ryder Cup is off to an emotional start for Team USA

The Ryder Cup is off to an emotional start for Team USA
  • The Americans have lost at home only four times since the Ryder Cup began in 1927
  • Europe are coming off a resounding win at Marco Simone and return 11 of the 12 players from the Italy matches in 2023

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.: The Ryder Cup had moments of inspiration in vastly different forms during a quiet Monday start to golf’s most chaotic week. There were tears for the Americans as they gathered on the first tee at sunrise and a strong reminder for Europe as they go after a rare road win.

US captain Keegan Bradley had his entire team on the first tee before the gates open, no one in the massive grandstands that come Friday will be packed with flag-waving fans.

He had Chris Mascali, a New York firefighter whose father died during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, speak to the team. Mascali brought his uniform, along with the helmet of his father, Joe Mascali. Those now are in the team room for the Americans.

Bryan Robinson from FDNY Ladder 16 sang the national anthem as the large video board showed great moments in Ryder Cup history.

“I had this vision of doing that for about a year,” Bradley said. “And to be out there and see it, and see how emotional the guys got, was a really special time for our team.”

The Americans walked solemnly across the bridge from the first tee complex, headed to the practice area, then played 18 holes of the Black Course.

Team Europe spent two days at Bethpage Black a week ago and then dispersed – some to American homes, others playing some of Long Island’s best golf courses – until returning to Bethpage for what it expects to be a big challenge.

The Americans have lost at home only four times since the Ryder Cup began in 1927. European captain Luke Donald had his team wear salmon-colored pullovers or sweater vests, a subtle reminder of what can be done.

That was the Sunday color for the European team in 1987 when it stunned the Americans at Muirfield Village to win its first Ryder Cup away from home. Europe have won three more times on US soil since then, the most recent 13 years ago in what became known as the “Miracle at Medinah” because of the Sunday rally.

“That’s motivating to the guys that it can be done, it has been done, and again, we’re here to try and do it again,” Donald said.

Europe are coming off a resounding win at Marco Simone and return 11 of the 12 players from the Italy matches in 2023 – the exception is Rasmus Hojgaard, the identical twin of Nicolai Hojgaard, who played in the last Ryder Cup.

But the Europeans lost by nine points in 2021 at Whistling Straits, by six points at Hazeltine in 2016 and by five points at Valhalla in 2008.

“I think it’s always important to rally around something,” Donald said. “We always have things that we come up with that are important to us. History and our unity and celebrating what we’ve done in the past and the legends that have kind of come before us is really important.

“This is going to be a difficult challenge.”

There were not many surprises in the way Bradley grouped his three groups of four players for the only full practice round they play this week.

Justin Thomas and Cameron Young were together, as they were in the Procore Championship two weeks ago in Napa, California. Ben Griffin, one of four Ryder Cup rookies, was with Bryson DeChambeau, who was not in Napa because he’s with LIV Golf and thus ineligible for PGA Tour play.

Scottie Scheffler was with Russell Henley – they formed a tough partnership in the Presidents Cup last year at Royal Montreal – along with US Open champion J.J. Spaun and Harris English.

The final group had Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, partners for most team matches over the last six years, along with Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa, who won a fourballs match in Marco Simone at the last Ryder Cup.

Schauffele and DeChambeau have gone about a month since last competing. DeChambeau finished the LIV season on Aug. 24, and Schauffele missed the Procore Championship while at home with a newborn son.

The captains are good friends, both living close to each other in South Florida, and shared one sentiment about the Ryder Cup. As tense as it has become, the goal is to enjoy the week not knowing if the opportunity will come up again.

Bradley played in two Ryder Cups, the last one in 2014. He has not been back in any capacity until the 39-year-old who played college golf at St. John’s was named captain last year.

He felt that sentiment as his team gathered on the first tee to listen to Mascali.

“It was a powerful moment,” Bradley said. “You’re looking around and seeing all the guys staring at what we were doing and so into it in such an emotional way. A lot of people have worked really hard to get to this point in their lives.

“Sometimes in your life and in your career, you have to take stock in what’s happening around you,” he said. “I think one of my biggest regrets earlier in my career wasn’t enjoying things more. And for that moment out this morning, guys were really taking that in and enjoying it, and that was a beautiful thing.”


PSG’s Dembélé wins the Ballon d’Or and Barcelona’s Bonmati achieves award hat trick

PSG’s Dembélé wins the Ballon d’Or and Barcelona’s Bonmati achieves award hat trick
Updated 23 September 2025

PSG’s Dembélé wins the Ballon d’Or and Barcelona’s Bonmati achieves award hat trick

PSG’s Dembélé wins the Ballon d’Or and Barcelona’s Bonmati achieves award hat trick
  • Dembele, 28, pipped Barcelona and Spain teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to the prize at a ceremony in Paris
  • “Third time in a row here and I still can’t believe it,” Bonmatí said “I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life”

PARIS: Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or for leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League title and Aitana Bonmatí received the women’s award for a third successive year on Monday.
Dembélé succeeded Manchester City midfielder Rodri to become the sixth Frenchman to win it after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema.
Bonmatí won ahead of her Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey. She’s only the third player in the award’s history to win three in a row after Platini (1983–85) and Lionel Messi (2009-12).
The award capped a remarkable turn of fortune for Dembélé, who at one point last season was snubbed by PSG coach Luis Enrique for disciplinary reasons. But once repositioned as a No. 9, he became a scoring machine and was inspirational in PSG’s historic Champions League campaign. The French club also completed a quadruple last season.
Dembélé was praised after the Champions League final for the way he contributed to PSG’s pressing and his ability to defend during the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan. He delivered 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 official matches last season, and was involved in 14 goals (8 goals, 6 assists) in the Champions League in 15 appearances. 

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona's Spanish midfielder and Ballon d’Or 2024 winner Aitana Bonmati pose after receiving the Ballon d'Or awards during the 2025 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on September 22, 2025. (AFP)


Dembélé received the Ballon d’Or from former winner Ronaldinho and teared up during his acceptance speech in which he asked his mother to join him on the stage.
“It’s incredible to win a trophy like this,” he said in French. “I worked for the team to help win PSG’s first Champions League (...) To then be rewarded with an individual trophy like the Ballon d’Or is truly exceptional.”
Dembélé won ahead of teenage star Lamine Yamal. The forward, who turned 18 in July, helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Copa del Rey last season and reach the Champions League semifinals. Yamal was given the Kopa award for the best under-21 player for the second straight year.
“I need to keep on working to win other awards in the future,” Yamal said through a translator.
Dembélé was injured and able to attend the ceremony in Paris while his team lost at Marseille 1-0 in the French league. He was one of nine PSG players nominated for the men’s award, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, forward Désiré Doué, who scored twice in the Champions League final, and winger Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia.
Although Bonmati lost to England in a penalty shootout in the Women’s European Championship final last summer, she was named the best player of the tournament, which she began just days after being hospitalized by viral meningitis.
Bonmatí’s spot kick in the shootout was one of two saved by England’s Hannah Hampton, who was voted the best women’s goalkeeper.
“Third time in a row here and I still can’t believe it,” Bonmatí said “I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life.”
She won a domestic treble with Barcelona and also reached the Champions League final.
Barcelona has won the last five women’s awards but it was expected an Englishwoman would win for the first time. England won the Euros and Arsenal took the Women’s Champions League. But with five England players among the women’s top 10 nominees, the highest placed was Alessia Russo at third.
Other trophies
Barcelona forward Vicky Lopez won the women’s Kopa trophy and Sarina Wiegman, who led England to European victory, took the Johan Cruyff award for best women’s coach. On a great night for PSG, Luis Enrique won in the men’s category.
PSG was voted the best men’s club and Donnarumma received the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper. Donnarumma, whose shot-stopping in the knockout stages proved crucial to PSG’s success, left for Manchester City during the offseason. Hampton was crowned the best women’s goalkeeper.
The men’s and women’s Gerd Müller trophies for the top scorers went to Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor and Viktor Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal this summer from Sporting Portugal after a prolific season.


Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab edge into last 16 of King Cup

Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab edge into last 16 of King Cup
Updated 23 September 2025

Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab edge into last 16 of King Cup

Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab edge into last 16 of King Cup
  • Victories for Al-Kholood and Al-Khaleej ensured a clean sweep for Saudi Pro League clubs

RIYADH: Al-Hilal secured their spot in the final 16 of the King Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 away victory over Al-Adalah at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium in Hofuf on Monday night.

The Riyadh side had a goal disallowed by the video assistant referee late in the first half but still managed to go into the break with a one-goal advantage after Abdullah Al-Hamdan scored in the second minute of stoppage time. That ultimately proved to be enough for the win.

Also on Monday, Al-Shabab had two players sent off in the first half but managed to pull off an unlikely 4-2, penalty-shootout away win over Abha at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, after the game ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time.

After captain Yannick Carrasco’s 13th minute opener for Al-Shabab was canceled out by Afonso Taira 11 minutes later, the dynamic of the match seemed to have turned heavily in favor of the home side when Saad Yaslam received his marching orders just after the half-hour mark.

Things got worse for Al-Shabab when Wesley Hoedt was also sent off, in first half stoppage time.

Against the odds, albeit against lower league opposition, Al-Shabab managed to hold out for the entirety of the second half, taking the match into extra time. Abha looked to have broken the spirits of their exalted opposition when they took the lead through Brazilian midfielder Muralha after 97 minutes.

But Al-Shabab hit back a minute before the end of the first period of extra time, thanks to a goal from Vincent Sierro with an assist from Carrasco.

The inspirational Carrasco seemed to have grabbed the winner in the 119th minute but the goal was chalked off and the match went to penalties. Al-Shabab’s Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe proved to be the hero in the shootout, saving twice to secure a famous win as his team triumphed 4-2 on penalties.

Pro League sides also triumphed over Division 1 opposition in the day’s other two cup matches: visitors Al-Kholood defeated Al-Bukayriyah 2-1, while Al-Khaleej recorded a comprehensive 5-0 victory over hosts Al-Tai.


UFC 321 card grows with three new international bouts

The card is headlined by Tom Aspinall’s first UFC heavyweight title defense against French contender Ciryl Gane. supplied
The card is headlined by Tom Aspinall’s first UFC heavyweight title defense against French contender Ciryl Gane. supplied
Updated 22 September 2025

UFC 321 card grows with three new international bouts

The card is headlined by Tom Aspinall’s first UFC heavyweight title defense against French contender Ciryl Gane. supplied
  • The bout marks Camilo’s second UFC appearance after a debut loss earlier this year. With both fighters searching for a breakthrough

ABU DHABI: UFC 321 has added three more international matchups to its already stacked lineup ahead of the Oct. 25 event at Etihad Arena.

The card is headlined by Tom Aspinall’s first UFC heavyweight title defense against French contender Ciryl Gane and will now feature added depth across the featherweight and lightweight divisions.

British featherweight Nathaniel Wood is set to face Mexico’s Jose Miguel Delgado in what promises to be a dynamic clash of styles.

Wood, who made a successful move up from bantamweight, has built a reputation as a well-rounded and dangerous fighter. He enters Abu Dhabi aiming to break into the featherweight top 15.

Delgado arrives with just one professional loss and a size advantage. Known for his aggression and finishing instinct, the rising Mexican talent faces the toughest test of his career in Wood.

In the lightweight division, Poland’s Mateusz Rebecki will meet Slovakia’s Ľudovit “Mr Highlight” Klein in a bout tipped to be a potential Fight of the Night.

Rebecki, a graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series, is known for his relentless pressure and slick submissions. His UFC tenure has featured both setbacks and gritty, crowd-pleasing victories.

Klein, a sharp southpaw striker, is aiming to bounce back after a loss to Mateusz Gamrot ended his seven-fight unbeaten streak.

This matchup pits Rebecki’s ground game against Klein’s striking and could have major implications for the lightweight rankings.

Palestinian featherweight Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady also returns to action in Abu Dhabi, where he will take on Brazil’s Matheus Camilo.

Al-Selwady, a former champion in both Desert Force and Brave CF, is seeking his first UFC win following a loss to Loik Radzhabov in 2024.

The bout marks Camilo’s second UFC appearance after a debut loss earlier this year. With both fighters searching for a breakthrough, this contest carries added emotional and career weight.

UFC 321 will also feature a co-main event between Brazil’s Virna Jandiroba and American grappler Mackenzie Dern for the vacant women’s strawweight title.