Muhammad Ali stabbed George Foreman in 'Rush in the Jungle'

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October 30, 1974: In one of the greatest matches in boxing history, Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman to regain the heavyweight title. But no one had expected “The Max” to win.

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The New York Times put it in one sentence: “How a Bee Stings a Bear.” How Bears Get Stung by Bees. It was one of the most bizarre and insane boxing matches ever. On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali (34 years old) challenged George Foreman (25 years old) for the heavyweight crown.

The heavyweight title fight will be held in Africa for the first time. A football stadium in Kinshasa, the capital of Zaire. Both boxers received five million dollars. This is “Rumble in the Jungle.” “The Battle of the Century”.

The challenger is trapped in the corner.Image source: Associated Press

Like his first title fight with Sonny Liston a decade earlier, Ali was a blatant outsider. 1968 Olympic champion George Foremann won 37 of 40 fights by knockout. With his punch, he was considered almost invincible.

Foreman lasted a total of 11 minutes and 25 seconds in his three title matches against Joe Frazier, Joe “The King” Roman, and Ken Norton. Many expected Ali to lose the titanic fight and, moreover, his career could end with a one-punch knockout.

Ali’s tactics surprised everyone

But in the game under the African moonlight and in front of 100,000 spectators, Ali's tactics surprised his opponents, spectators and even his own coach. Instead of using speed and dancing to avoid his opponent's punches, as he had done before, he first allowed himself to be pushed voluntarily onto the ropes and then leaned back.

So he kept his head out of Foreman's reach. He can use his arms to protect his body, and the ropes can cushion blows. He didn't make a brief mistake until the second round.

“Ali, kill him!”

During breaks in fighting, attempts would be made to tighten the ropes. But Ali continued to play his “robe” (wandering around the ropes) and verbally provoked his opponent: “George, is that all you can do?” Fans were excited, “Ali, Bomaye!” (“Ali, that's all you can do!” , kill him!”) they shouted.

George Foreman has not fought longer than five rounds in the past three and a half years and has put his last eight opponents on the board in the second round. He lost his cool and drove Ali around the ring, expending too much energy. Ali increasingly ventured out of cover.

Just before the end of the eighth round, he knocked Foreman down with two quick combinations and nine straight headshots. Favorites take a long time to recover. The battle is over. The bee stung the bear.

A bird's eye view of the ring.Image: Getty Images North America

Muhammad Ali regained the title he had been stripped of for political reasons seven years earlier (he refused to serve in the Army in Vietnam), making him the second heavyweight after Floyd Patterson to break boxing's unwritten rules Pro: “They'll never come back!”

Due to its external circumstances, the game is also a worldwide event and will remain the largest sporting event on the African continent until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. As part of the support programme, promoter Don King is organizing a major concert, which will include performances by Miriam Makeba, James Bron, BB King, The Spinners and The Crusaders.

Sometimes words are not silver, but gold

As usual, Muhammad Ali made big comments before fights that pissed off his opponents. He told the outlet, among other things: “I did something new for this fight. I wrestled a crocodile, I wrestled a whale, I handcuffed Lightning, I imprisoned Thunder. I was evil.”

“Last week I killed a rock, wounded a rock, and punched a brick to the point where I was hospitalized. I'm so mean that even taking medicine makes me sick. Last night, I turned on the light switch in my bedroom and… Go to bed before the room gets dark.”

Ali's big mouth has long been legendary.Image: Getty Images North America

“I can run fast and can run through a hurricane without getting wet. If George Foreman met me, he would pay off his debt. I can sink, drink water, kill a dead tree, Wait until you see Muhammad Ali.”

When asked at a press conference what his specific objection was to Foreman, he responded: “He talks too much.” As Muhammad Ali illustrates: Sometimes talking more is not silver but gold.

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