Judge allows sexual abuse lawsuit against George Foreman to proceed

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual abuse against the late George Foreman can proceed. U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu denied a motion by Foreman’s widow, Mary P. Foreman, to dismiss, stay, or transfer the legal action.

The case was brought by Gwen H., who alleges that Foreman sexually abused her when she was a minor. While the judge noted that the allegations must be treated as true for the purpose of deciding the motion, the court explicitly stated it is not finding the allegations to be true at this stage.

Mary Foreman had requested that the case be moved to Texas, where the estate of the former heavyweight champion is being administered in Harris County. However, Judge Hsu rejected the request to transfer the litigation, noting that the alleged events took place in California and that relevant witnesses are located in California, Nevada, and Texas.

The court also rejected attempts to stay the proceedings or dismiss the action. The judge found that the lawsuit does not require the administration of Foreman's estate, as any eventual judgment regarding the claims of sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress could be handled separately through the estate.

George Foreman died on March 21, 2025, at the age of 76, before he could resolve the legal battle. He had previously denied the allegations, which surfaced in 2022, and stated that he intended to defend his reputation in court. The two-time heavyweight champion had maintained that the claims were false and that he would not be intimidated by them.

Foreman's career included winning Olympic gold in 1968, defeating Joe Frazier for the heavyweight title, and later regaining the championship at age 45. Despite his death, the legal proceedings regarding these historical allegations remain active in the Central District of California.