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30th October 2020
By: Noah Abrahams
A fight night in Zaire that boxing fans will never forget, The Rumble In The Jungle was arguably the most iconic sporting event of the 20th Century.
Today, 46 years on from Muhammad Ali’s famous knockout over George Foreman in an incredible eighth round, Boxing Guru takes you back to an evening that helped shape the sport.
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What Went Down
The reigning and undefeated world heavyweight champion ‘Big George’ Foreman went down!
In front of an estimated one billion television viewers around the globe, Ali introduced to the world a rope-a-dope technique that would rocket him back to the pinnacle of boxing.
In central Africa, ‘The Greatest’ became the challenger. Ali very much the underdog as two of the very best went to war.
Ali returned to boxing following a lengthy suspension after refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. A loss to Joe Frazier by unanimous decision in the 1971 ‘Fight of The Century’, meant that whilst still hot property, the ‘People’s Champion’ was slipping out of the top ranks.
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Foreman approached the bout as a young and hungry 25-year-old. From winning gold at the 1968 Olympic games, ‘The Mummy’ went on to destroy both Joe Frazier and Ken Norton – Both of whom had beaten Ali.
Establishing himself as a fierce opponent, Foreman was a machine. The hottest prospect with the hottest hands in boxing, ‘The Punching Preache’ was expected to make light work of Ali. The bookies predicted a quick knockout. The 32-year-old lost them a fortune!
Savagely stopping Frazier and Norton within two rounds, Foreman was not one to ease his way in. At close quarters with Ali however, routine went out the window. Defying convention, ‘The Greatest’ disorientated Foreman in the opening round, enraging ‘The Heywood Giant’ who fought back off the ropes.
The tables turned in round two. Foreman fell straight into Ali’s game plan set out by trainer Angelo Dundee. Ali leant back on the ropes and covered up; Foreman’s energy wasted as he took aim at a more than capable challenger – the beginning of a rope-a-dope masterclass.
Ali was so successful in Zaire because of the way he enraged Foreman. Encouraging the champion to hit harder and throw more often, Ali was running the show, his opposite subconsciously playing straight into his hands.
Foreman looked well beaten. With a swollen face (from Ali counter combinations) and a tired body, the title holder had no response to Ali’s world-renowned question: “That all you got George?”
The eighth round will go down in history. After seven rounds of taunting from Ali, the 4-1 underdog pounced. Landing right hook after right hook, a five punch Ali combination culminated in a left hook and a powerful right to the face, Foreman finally falling.
Former professional basketball player and legendary boxing referee Zack Clayton counted Foreman out. Ali led on all three scorecards (68–66, 70–67, 69–66) and proved to his doubters that the show was far from over.
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Ali remained world champion until 1978, beating Frazier in ‘The Thrilla in Manilla’ and eventually re-capturing the belts for an historic third time.
For Foreman an unusual journey began. Retiring in 1977 after a loss to Jimmy Young, ‘Big George’ became an ordained Baptist preacher, before returning to the ring 20 years post Zaire.
Upsetting former world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer to regain the championship at age 45, Foreman made history as the oldest fighter to win the coveted prize.
There was never a Rumble in the Jungle re-match!
Did You Know…
The bout was originally scheduled for September 25th . Eight days prior to the 25th, Foreman was cut above his right eye in sparring with Bill McMurray who threw an accidental elbow. The blow required 11 stitches and forced back the fight.
A three-night-long music festival coined Zaire 74 took place on the week of the fight to help promote the clash.
Fight promoter Don King was not welcomed to stage such an event in the United States. Therefore, Zaire’s dictator Mobutu Sese Seko was persuaded to host the fight.
The crowds sung in their native language: “Ali, bomaye!” Which meant: “Ali, kill him!”
George Foreman stated in his autobiography “By George” that he was miserable in Zaire because of the lack of cheeseburgers.
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