The Rumble in the Jungle

The Rumble in the jungle

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. 1974. Billboard announcing the fight between Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. 1974. Surrounded by his bodyguards, and the world press, President MOBUTU Sese Seko receives Muhammad ALI in his palace by the Zaire (Congo) River. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship. Muhammad ALI fooling around. 1974. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. 1974. Muhammad ALI is mobbed by his supporters. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. ALI-FOREMAN Boxing Fight. 1974.

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. 1974. Muhammad ALI during training. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. 1974. Muhammad ALI talks to the press after a training session. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. October 30, 1974. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. A view of the ring before the fight. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. October 30, 1974. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. At the stadium spectators stand underneath a portrait of Zaire's President MOBUTU. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. October 30, 1974. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. The weigh in of George Foreman before the fight. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. October 30, 1974. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. Muhammad Ali about to be weighed before the start of the championship. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. At 4am on October 30, 1974, the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between the American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN was held in the "20th May Stadium". The event was co-organised by Zaire's President MOBUTU, and the American boxing promoter Don KING. The fight lasted 8 rounds, with the knock-out of Foreman. Ali was accompanied by his brother RACHAMAN, and his trainer Angelo DUNDEE, and cornerman BUNDINI (Drew Brown). Muhammad Ali avoids a punch from George Foreman. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. October 30, 1974. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. A journalist follows the fight through binoculars. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. October 30, 1974. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. The referee bends over Georges Foreman who has been knocked out by Muhammad Ali. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. Boxing promoter Don KING, who arranged the fight. 1974.

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. October 30, 1974. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. Boxing promoter Don KING, who arranged the fight. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. October 30, 1974. World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between American fighters Muhammad ALI and George FOREMAN. A crowd invades the ring after Muhammad ALI (center) knocked out George FOREMAN. | License

ZAIRE. Kinshasa. Muhammad Ali talking with the press in his dressing room, after the fight he won. On his right is his brother Rachaman. 1974. | License

The next day, I found Ali. It was like meeting Dr. Jekyll after rubbing shoulders with Mr. Hyde. He was calm, pensive; he no longer needed to perform. His plan had worked.

I never saw Foreman again, but came across a televised interview of him just after the match. In response to all that media hype about his defeat, he had simply declared: “I lost a fight.” With a pout that seemed to say: “Yes, and so what?” An answer of great dignity.

The Rumble in the jungle

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