Muhammad Ali’s victory over George Foreman in the much-anticipated heavyweight bout tagged “Rumble in the Jungle” is one of the most iconic moments in sports history.
The fight, which was promoted by legendary boxing promoter Don King, took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), on October 30, 1974.
Ali, who was 32 at the time, was considered the underdog going into the fight against Foreman, who was seven years younger at the time and had a record of 40 wins with 37 knockouts. Foreman was also the reigning heavyweight champion and had defeated other boxing greats such as Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, leading to him being considered by many to be “invincible”.
Ali, on the other hand, was a former champion who had been stripped of his title due to his refusal to serve in the Vietnam War for religious reasons. He had a record of 44 wins and 2 losses, with many believing he was past his prime.
Ali’s strategy going into the fight was to let Foreman fag out by absorbing his powerful punches on the ropes and then strike when the latter was vulnerable. This strategy, which Ali called the “rope-a-dope,” was risky, as it required him to absorb a great deal of punishment.
However, Ali’s stoic nature came in handy, and he executed his plan perfectly, as Foreman began to tire by the middle rounds. In the eighth round, Ali unleashed a flurry of punches that sent Foreman down on the canvas, winning the fight by knockout.
The “Rumble in the Jungle” is considered by many to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history. Ali’s victory not only cemented his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time, but it also served as a symbol of African pride and solidarity, as the fight was held in an African country and was seen as a victory over Western imperialism. It also marked a turning point in Ali’s career, as he regained the heavyweight championship he had lost seven years earlier and became a global symbol of resilience and perseverance.
Ali, popularly referred to as “the people’s champion”, had 61 professional fights in his illustrious career. He lost just five and won 56 bouts, with 37 coming via knockout. He was the first-ever boxer to win the world heavyweight title three times (1964, 1974, and 1978) before he ended his boxing career in December 1981.
