Rumble in the Jungle

Anthony Viney

When so many of us are glued to our televisions watching Strictly Come Dancing, the recent passing of George Foreman is a poignant reminder of a different kind of dance-off.

It took place in 1974, an encounter between David and Goliath figures, and came to be known as the Rumble in the Jungle.

The underdog, and smaller of the two, was Muhammad Ali. Known to be ‘mouthy’ by his detractors, he had lost years of training following a boxing ban for his opposition to the Vietnam War and his refusal to be conscripted. That didn’t prevent his African fans in the stadium in Kinshasa from screaming ‘Ali, boma ye…Ali, kill him’.

His opponent, known as ‘Big George’, was a tough street fighter and petty criminal in his youth. At a government training school, his mentor suggested he transfer his aggression to the ring. He went on to win Olympic Gold in the 1968 Mexico Olympics, then stunned the boxing community by knocking out the world heavyweight champion, Joe Frazier, in the second round.

So, in the searing heat of the Congo, Foreman was determined to retain his title.

Ali was renowned for his dance moves. ‘Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee.’ But he knew that an upper hook from Foreman’s massive fist would be fatal. Against the advice of his coach, Ali adopted the ‘Rope-a-Dope’ strategy. He sank into the net and absorbed every furious blow Foreman could deliver. He taunted his opponent mercilessly too. As Foreman exhausted himself, Ali emerged from the net the stronger. He finished Foreman off in the eighth round.

For most boxing pundits, Foreman’s career in the ring seemed over. He put on weight. Then, an epiphany. He became a born-again Christian, telling his family that God was happy to see him return to the ring. There were also practical reasons behind the conversion. Foreman was desperate to raise cash for a community centre for deprived kids.

Ten years passed. With a back-breaking training regime, the weight began to fall off. At the age of 45 – a pensioner by boxing standards – Foreman, now the underdog, took on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Michael Moorer. Against all expectations, he knocked him out in the 10th round, becoming the oldest boxer to wear the championship belt.

Sensibly, Foreman went on to find a new career. Well, two actually. He patented the George Foreman ‘lean, mean, grilling machine’, a grill that sold in its millions. He also became a pastor and set up his own church.

With five marriages under his belt, Foreman fathered 12 children. Five of them were boys. He called them all George so that, in his words, he would never call them by the wrong name.

In 1996 Foreman and Ali appeared at the Oscar ceremony for the acclaimed documentary, When We Were Kings. Ali was already suffering from Parkinson’s. In a measure of the man, Foreman took Ali’s arm and helped him to the stage.

George Foreman, died March 21, 2025, RIP.

• Anthony Viney is a member of Inklings Writing Group, who meet on Tuesdays at 11am and on Wednesdays at 7.30pm in the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar. All aspiring and fun writers are welcome.