Despite developing a friendship in their later years, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman once faced each other in one of boxing’s most memorable encounters.
‘The Rumble In The Jungle’ took place on Wednesday 30 October 1974 at the 20th of May Stadium in Kinshasa, with Foreman putting his WBC and WBA world heavyweight titles at stake.
‘Big George’ went into the fight as the heavy favourite with many fans and analysts expecting the unbeaten reigning champion to knock Ali out in impressive fashion.
Foreman started the bout at a relentless pace and landed a number of heavy shots on the challenger, although Ali was able to weather the early storm and absorb most of the punishment by using his infamous ‘rope-a-dope’ technique.
Ali eventually took control of proceedings before knocking Foreman out in the 8th round to capture the world heavyweight championship in what is considered to be the greatest victory of his career.
The legendary duo put their rivalry aside in the years that followed and became friends, resulting in Ali urging Foreman to make a return to the ring to try and defeat a former rival of ‘The Greatest’.
Speaking to Jim Lampley, Foreman revealed that Ali once called him to try and force the two-time heavyweight champion into facing Ken Norton, who handed Ali the second defeat of his career in 1973.
“He called me and complimented me for about twenty-minutes then he said, ‘ George, would you do me a favour? I said, ‘Certainly.’
“He said, ‘Please come back and beat Ken Norton and fight him for me. I can’t beat him. George, you can, he’s afraid of you. I’ll let you use my training camp and everything but please come back and beat him for me.”
Despite Ali’s efforts, Foreman refused to face Norton and would go on to take a 10-year break from boxing to pursue his career as a preacher.
‘Big George’ did eventually make a return to the ring however, etching his name into boxing history in 1994 when he dethroned WBA and IBF champion Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever.
