George Foreman, the former heavyweight boxing champion, admitted he regretted fighting Muhammad Ali in the famous "Rumble in the Jungle" bout. The revelation came from a resurfaced interview with the late boxer, who passed away at 76 surrounded by his loved ones.
Foreman's career took off when he won the Olympic Gold Medal in Mexico City in 1968. He turned pro the following year and quickly made his mark in the boxing world. In just four years, Foreman boxed 37 times before facing Joe Frazier for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1973. He won that fight in the second round.
But it's the 1974 fight against Muhammad Ali that Foreman looked back on with remorse. He said:
"It is just like when I decided to fight Ali. I just don't know why I chose to do it. I really shouldn't have done it. I took the fight to Ali round after round but then the next thing I knew, I was on the floor."
Ali, known for his quick wit and even quicker fists, used his famous "rope-a-dope" technique to wear Foreman down. The strategy worked, and Ali knocked out Foreman in the eighth round.
After defeating Foreman, Ali went on to defend his title against fighters like Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, and Earnie Shavers. He lost his titles to Leon Spinks in 1978 but won them back just six months later in a rematch.
Ali retired in 1981 after losses to Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 74.
Despite his regret over the Ali fight, Foreman's career was far from over after that loss. He continued to box and even regained the heavyweight title at the age of 45.
Tributes poured in for Foreman after his death, with many remembering him not just for his boxing skills, but also for his larger-than-life personality and successful business ventures outside the ring.
The "Rumble in the Jungle" remains one of boxing's most iconic fights, a testament to the skill and determination of both Foreman and Ali. While Foreman may have regretted taking the fight, it cemented both men's places in boxing history.
