“You’re just a sissy!” – Muhammad Ali explains how he relentlessly attacked George Foreman during iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” fight
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Muhammad Ali explains how he relentlessly attacked George Foreman
Muhammad Ali was one of the most entertaining boxers the world had ever seen. Ali was known for his trash-talking ability incorporating elements of rap and poetry. Moreover, “the Greatest” was able to back up his talk with his action in the ring.
Recalling one of the greatest fights in their career, Muhammad Ali once gave some insight about his fight with George Foreman known as ‘The rumble in the jungle’. Ali described, “just before the fight I looking at him, I said sucker you are in trouble tonight, you are fighting the greatest fighter of all time, you heard I was the greatest,…you gonna see I am a faster sucker, I am gonna burn you up, you are fighting your idol…come one sucker you are just a sissy” . Ali further revealed he kept on mocking Foreman through the match. During the sixth round when Foreman’s exhaustion was visible on his face, Ali said,” you have two chances slim and none”
Muhammad Ali emerged victorious from the match as the new WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight champion. The iconic clash was taking place at Stade Tata Raphaël, Kinshasa, Zaire with 60 000 people in the arena and half a billion people tuning in for the match worldwide.
Related:The Night Muhammad Ali nearly killed himself to overcome Joe Fraizer at the Thrilla In Manila
George Foreman looks back at the Rumble in the jungle as he comments on Muhammad Ali
The former two-heavyweight champion was known to be one of the best fighters of his generation. He captured his first heavyweight title by defeating the legendary Joe Frazier. “Big George” was on a forty-match unbeaten run until his path collided with Muhammad Ali.
In an interview, George Foreman spoke about the Rumble in the jungle and described how Muhammad Ali humiliated him. He said, “I was beating this guy for five or six rounds we are in Africa, It’s hot and I am him the 6th round 7th round when I thought I got him …then he(Ali) fell on my shoulder and spoke into ears and said,’ that all you got George’… I don’t wanna be defined like that, the Rumble in the jungle I call it the mugging in the jungle”.
One of Ali’s most well-known battles is the Rumble in the Jungle, placing right up there with the Thrilla in Manila in 1975 and the unbeaten then-heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and Ali’s Fight of the Century in 1971.
Also read: Muhammad Ali developed his flamboyant and aggressive personality from this professional wrestler
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Soumya Ranjan
(2167 Articles Published)