On this day in 1974: Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle,”

In the pre-dawn hours of October 30, 1974, in Kinshasa, Zaire, Muhammad Ali achieved what many considered impossible: he knocked out the seemingly invincible George Foreman to reclaim the heavyweight championship of the world in what became known as the “Rumble in the Jungle.”

At 32, Ali was considered past his prime, facing a younger, stronger champion in Foreman, who had demolished both Joe Frazier and Ken Norton – two men who had previously defeated Ali. The odds-makers installed Foreman as a 7-1 favourite, and many feared for Ali’s safety against the hardest puncher in boxing history.

But Ali had a plan. As the fight began, he employed what would later be called the “rope-a-dope” strategy, lying against the ropes and allowing Foreman to punch himself into exhaustion. The crowd of 60,000 at the 20th of May Stadium chanted “Ali, bomaye!” (“Ali, kill him!”) as their hero absorbed Foreman’s savage blows behind his defensive shell.

The strategy appeared suicidal to observers. Ali took tremendous punishment to his body and arms, but he hadn’t lost his gift for psychological warfare. Between absorbing punches, he taunted Foreman: “That all you got, George? They told me you could hit!” The heavyweight champion continued to throw bombs, but with decreasing efficiency as the tropical heat and his own exertion took their toll.

By the eighth round, Foreman was exhausted, his punches having lost their fearsome power. Ali, who had been waiting for this moment, suddenly sprang to life. He launched a lightning combination, culminating in a straight right hand that spun Foreman around. As the champion twirled, Ali followed with a crushing left hook. Foreman went down, and though he tried to rise, he couldn’t beat the count.

The victory represented more than just a boxing match. For Ali, who had been stripped of his title and banned from boxing for refusing military service during the Vietnam War, it was vindication. For Africa, hosting its first heavyweight championship fight, it was a moment of pride. For the boxing world, it was a masterclass in strategy over strength, brains over brawn.

The “Rumble in the Jungle” remains one of sport’s greatest upsets and most dramatic moments. It cemented Ali’s legacy as “The Greatest” and demonstrated that his proclamation “I am the greatest!” wasn’t mere boasting – it was prophecy.

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