Muhammad Ali Summed Up George Foreman’s Power Perfectly In Just 3 Words

Muhammad Ali faced George Foreman in one of boxing’s greatest showdowns over 50-years ago in a clash billed as ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’.

It was October 30 1974 when ‘The Greatest’ challenged Foreman for the world heavyweight championship in Kinshasa, a fight that would go on to be one of the most significant in the long history of boxing.

Ali went into the bout as a heavy underdog, despite already enjoying considerable success during the 1960’s where he reigned as heavyweight champion for a number of years following a sensational victory over Sonny Liston in 1964.

‘Big’ George began to plough away at Ali from the opening bell, throwing thunderous punches which ‘The Greatest’ absorbed using his infamous ‘rope-a-dope’ style. By the eighth round, Foreman was all out of energy, which Ali capitalised on to force an incredible stoppage victory and become heavyweight champion of the world once again.

Speaking in his autobiography, Ali gave an honest assessment of Foreman punches, saying he carried power that he ‘never thought possible’.

“I taunt George. I goad him.. You ain’t got no punch, you phoney. George roars in like a mob. He’s throwing punches with tonnage I never thought a fist could carry. A crowbar in George’s right hand crashes through my guard into my head, knocks me into the room of half-dream. My head vibrates like a tuning fork. Neon lights flash on and off.”

‘The Greatest’ made 10 successful defences of the titles he took from Foreman that night in Zaire, defeating the likes of Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle and Joe Frazier during his reign before he was eventually beaten by Leon Spinks in February 1978, although he would avenge this loss seven months later.