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George Foreman died with a fight for his reputation still unresolved after vowing to defend his name against allegations he adamantly denied. More than a year after the heavyweight legend’s death, a federal judge has ruled that one of the cases he vowed to fight can continue. U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu has denied a motion by Foreman’s widow, Mary P. Foreman, seeking to dismiss, stay or transfer the lawsuit brought by Gwen H., who alleges Foreman sexually abused her while she was a minor. The August 10 ruling means the case remains in the Central District of California rather than being moved to Texas, where Foreman’s estate is being administered. It is important to make clear what the ruling does not mean. The judge has made no finding that the allegations against Foreman are true. The court expressly stated that although the allegations must be treated as true for the purposes of deciding the motion, it was “not—at this stage—finding that they are true.” Foreman denied the allegations throughout his lifetime. Foreman Vowed to Defend His Name World Boxing News first reported on the allegations in 2022 when two women came forward with claims of historical sexual abuse. Foreman responded with an unequivocal denial. “Over the past six months, two women have been trying to extort millions of dollars each from my family and me,” Foreman said at the time. “They falsely claim that I sexually abused them over 45 years ago in the 1970s. “I adamantly and categorically deny these allegations.” For Foreman, the allegations went beyond a legal battle. The two-time heavyweight champion made clear that his reputation meant as much to him as anything he achieved during one of boxing’s most remarkable careers. “The pride I take in my reputation means as much to me as my sports accomplishments,” Foreman said. “I will not be intimidated by baseless threats and lies.” WBN subsequently reported how Foreman said he intended to fight the allegations personally. “I’ll defend myself in court,” he said. “I don’t pick fights, but I don’t run away from them either.” Foreman never got the opportunity to see the litigation through. The former heavyweight champion died on March 21, 2025, aged 76. The court later substituted his widow, Mary P. Foreman, as the proper party in Gwen H.’s case. Judge Rejects Bid to Dismiss, Stay or Transfer In March, Mary Foreman asked the court to dismiss the action or, alternatively, stay proceedings or transfer the case to Texas. The estate is being administered through probate in Harris County, but Judge Hsu rejected the argument that this prevented the California federal court from continuing with Gwen H.’s claims. The court found that the lawsuit does not require it to administer Foreman’s estate. Gwen H. is seeking damages through claims of sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and any eventual judgment could be dealt with separately through the estate. The judge also rejected a transfer to Texas, finding that no relevant factor favored moving the litigation there. The court noted that the alleged events in Gwen H.’s complaint occurred in California and that witnesses directly relevant to those allegations are located in Nevada, California and Texas. Attempts to stay the proceedings under two separate legal doctrines were also rejected. The final order granted requests for judicial notice from both sides but denied Mary Foreman’s motion to dismiss, stay or transfer the case. A Fight Foreman Can No Longer Fight Foreman won Olympic gold in 1968, demolished Joe Frazier to become heavyweight champion, shared the ring with Muhammad Ali in the “Rumble in the Jungle” and then completed one of sport’s greatest comebacks by regaining the heavyweight championship at 45. Decades later, when faced with allegations capable of affecting the reputation he had built, Foreman’s response was equally unmistakable. He denied everything and promised to fight. The allegations remain unresolved, and Foreman’s denials remain an essential part of the record. The heavyweight legend once said he did not run away from fights and would defend himself in court. The case continues, but George Foreman is no longer here to defend his name. About the Author Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.