October 30, 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of The Rumble in the Jungle, the legendary match between Ali and Foreman that took place in Zaire. Duluth Boxing Promoter Chuck Horton has put together a presentation summarizing and commemorating this great moment in the sport of boxing's history.

1. 40th
Anniversary
of
The Rumble
in the Jungle
By Boxing Coach,
Chuck Horton

2. The Set-Up
!
Renowned boxing promoter,
Don King, was integral in setting
up the fight. He promised each
fighter $5 million ($24 million
in 2014). No one in the United
States was willing to supply that
astronomical fee to the fighters.
The president of Zaire, Mobutu
Sese Seko, wanting to attract
international attention to the
abundant natural resources of
his nation, agreed to cover the
cost of the fight.

3. BACKGROUND
Ali was banished from the boxing
arena in 1967 for his refusal to join the
draft. He reclaimed his license 3 years
later, though visible diminished and
somewhat older and slower. Following
his loss to Frazier, Ali was 40-1 in some
books and nearly every expert feared
for his safety against the monstrous
Foreman.
“Big George” gained his World
Heavyweight title thanks to a second
round KO of then-undefeated Joe
Frazier. Before the Rumble in the
Jungle fight, Foreman was undefeated
with 40 wins, 37 of them knockouts
in an early round. He was portrayed
in the media as a grim and unsmiling
ogre with trunk trees for arms.

4. The Strategy
Ali pulled off one of the
riskiest gambles in all of
sports history. His “rope-a-
dope” strategy let
Foreman throw
dangerous punches while
Ali dodged and defended
while leaning back heavily
on the ropes.
!

5. The Knockout
After soaking up
Foreman’s blows (and
crucial misses) Ali picked
the perfect moment to
bound off the ropes and
clock Foreman right on
the chin with a dazzling
punch. It left Foreman
completely dazed on the
floor. Ali had proven
himself once more as king
of the world!

6. chuckhorton.org