George Foreman's recent death at 76 brought back memories of one of boxing's most iconic fights. In his last social media post, Foreman recalled the "Rumble in the Jungle," the legendary bout against Muhammad Ali that took place on October 30, 1974, in Kinshasa.
Don King organized the fight in the heart of Africa, under the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko. The event was broadcast via satellite to the whole world. Originally scheduled for September 25, the fight got pushed back to October 30 after Foreman suffered a cut over his right eyebrow during sparring.
At the time, Foreman was the undefeated champion at 25 years old. He had 40 professional fights under his belt with 37 knockouts. His most notable victory came when he knocked out Joe Frazier in six rounds on January 22, 1973, in Kingston, Jamaica.
Ali, on the other hand, was the veteran trying to regain his belt. With 44 fights, 31 knockouts, and 2 losses, he entered the ring as a 7-1 underdog. Both fighters were guaranteed a $5 million purse.
The ring preparation caused some drama. John Goodman, part of Ali's team, described the situation:
"We set to work on the braces, to make them firm. Angelo was afraid that his boxer, with such weight without stretched ropes, would end up in the ring, especially because the ring was very high. That's when Sadler and Moore, Foreman's men, appeared. When we asked them for help, they didn't do it. We kept working on our own."
As the fight began, Ali employed his famous "Rope a Dope" strategy, tricking Foreman by waiting against the ropes. He danced around Foreman, used a closed guard, and leaned back on the loose ropes. Ali even taunted Foreman, saying, "Is that all you got, George? It didn't hurt at all! Come on, hit harder!"
By the middle rounds, Foreman was tired and walking slowly. Ali varied his dance speed, hugged Foreman, pushed his arms down, and even wrestled with him. In the seventh round, Ali told his corner, "Now I'm getting tired so I'm going to knock him out."
The eighth round saw Foreman advancing on instinct alone. Ali landed several 1-2 combinations to the head, finishing with a right hand that knocked Foreman down. Foreman got up on the nine count, but the referee declared a knockout.
Years after the defeat, Foreman experienced a spiritual awakening and became a Christian minister. He recently posted on social media:
"Can you believe it's 50 years since the 'Rumble in the Jungle', the fight against Muhammad Ali? Remembering the best time of my life, celebrate with me with a piece of cake as I relive the 'Rope-a-Dope'."
The "Rumble in the Jungle" remains one of boxing's most memorable fights, showcasing Ali's tactical brilliance and Foreman's raw power. It's a testament to both men's legacies in the sport.
