Fifty years ago, Muhammad Ali pulled off one of boxing’s biggest upsets, defeating the feared George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, on October 30, 1974. This was truly a seismic event, remembered today as “The Rumble in the Jungle.” As we look back, Ali’s close advisor Gene Kilroy reflected on the unique factors that made this fight a piece of history, and the enormous legacy it left in the world of sports.
Kilroy remembers Ali’s confidence in his strategy. After watching Foreman’s previous fights, Ali saw something others hadn’t: a chance to tire the powerful Foreman using his now-famous “rope-a-dope” technique. Kilroy recalls Ali saying, “No stamina,” hinting at the plan that would wear Foreman down and ultimately secure his victory in the eighth round. The crowd’s electrifying chants of “Ali Bomaye” (Ali, kill him) echoed through the stadium, setting the stage for Ali’s moment of glory.
In Kilroy’s words, this was “as big as the Olympics” and a highpoint that no one forgets. Even Foreman’s defeat marked a turning point in his life, leading him toward humility and faith. As Kilroy puts it, if that fight happened today, each fighter would be looking at an incredible $200 million payday - showing how this fight’s legacy has only grown over time.
The fight itself is a reminder not just of Ali’s greatness but of boxing’s enduring power to captivate fans around the world. But, would have they really earned $200 million nowadays?
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