OT: Watch Ali “rope-a-dope” George Foreman...

[HOF Coach]

 

[wbrpanther]

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They screamed for Ali to get off the ropes but he knew what he was doing. Foreman punched himself out then Ali knocked him the f**k out in the 8th to take back the crown. One of my all time favorite sports moments.

 

[HOF Coach]

They screamed for Ali to get off the ropes but he knew what he was doing. Foreman punched himself out then Ali knocked him the f**k out in the 8th to take back the crown. One of my all time favorite sports moments.

I went to the closed circuit broadcast in Pittsburgh in 1974. The drama watching this bout unroll created such an electric live environment, fans screaming for Ali to get off the ropes!

Here's a great article about the "Rumble in the Jungle":
https://newpittsburghcourier.com/2014/10/30/rumble-in-the-jungle-so-epic-it-needed-a-name/

 

[PittAU]

I went to the closed circuit broadcast in Pittsburgh in 1974. The drama watching this bout unroll created such an electric live environment, fans screaming for Ali to get off the ropes!

Here's a great article about the "Rumble in the Jungle":
https://newpittsburghcourier.com/2014/10/30/rumble-in-the-jungle-so-epic-it-needed-a-name/

watching with a crowd is extremely fun. I went to The Arena to watch Leonard v Hagler. And last year I went to the theater to watch Fury v Wilder 2. Great fun

 

[wbrpanther]

I went to the closed circuit broadcast in Pittsburgh in 1974. The drama watching this bout unroll created such an electric live environment, fans screaming for Ali to get off the ropes!

Here's a great article about the "Rumble in the Jungle":
https://newpittsburghcourier.com/2014/10/30/rumble-in-the-jungle-so-epic-it-needed-a-name/

I was a big Ali fan and remember listening to this fight in my mom's kitchen when I still lived at home. I remember going nuts when Ali knocked him out. My mom ran in wanting to know what was wrong and when I told her she said I was nuts and she walked away.

 

[goalieman]

I was a big Ali fan and remember listening to this fight in my mom's kitchen when I still lived at home. I remember going nuts when Ali knocked him out. My mom ran in wanting to know what was wrong and when I told her she said I was nuts and she walked away.

Your mom was right !

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Why wouldn’t he just throw a body shot.

 

[HOF Coach]

Why wouldn’t he just throw a body shot.

Foreman tried that too with Ali on the ropes.


Here’s what did happen, as TIME reported in the Nov. 11, 1974, issue:

Then, in the second round, the bee unexpectedly threw away the tactics of his entire career. Off his toes and seemingly off his rocker, Ali stood along the ropes, exactly where Foreman wants an opponent to be. Indeed, with his customary authority, Foreman started pounding punches against Ali’s midsection. Some of Foreman’s blows glanced off Ali’s arms and gloves, and none hit Ali’s face, but it seemed to be only a matter of time before Ali’s belly would turn to pulp.
Astonishingly, Ali seemed hardly concerned. As the fiercest puncher since Sonny Liston whaled away, Ali shouted taunts at Foreman. “You can’t hurt me!” Ali yelled. “You punch like a sissy.” Soon it became clear that Ali had constructed a trap. All summer and fall he had been developing granite abdominal muscles with a grueling regimen of calisthenics, spending an hour every morning hardening his gut by doing sit-ups with his legs held up at a 45 degree angle or while his limbs were pumping back and forth in a bicycle-pedaling motion. Now he was simply letting Foreman punch himself out against that iron flesh. “I wanted to make him shoot his best shots,” said Ali later.
That is precisely what Foreman did. In the sultry tropical night (the temperature was 86° and the humidity about 90%), Foreman’s punches soon lost power. Arm weary, he began to swing wildly, frequently missing entirely, spinning around on his own momentum like a worn-out drunk. Ali took advantage of Foreman’s slack defense by springing off the ropes time after time to jolt the bone-tired champ with lightning combinations to the head.

By giving up on the “floating like a butterfly” that had made his career, Muhammad Ali won the match in the eighth round.

 

[Pitt1975]

I was at Pitt in 74. Had a weekend job at a funeral home. Listened to the fight on the radio as well. Was with my girlfriend. She is still here with me......

 

[comp_panther]

I love Ali...but that's not George Foreman.

 

[HOF Coach]

I love Ali...but that's not George Foreman.

I think you are correct.

Any idea who that other boxer is?

 

[PittAU]

I love Ali...but that's not George Foreman.

And you are correct.

 

[NC Panther]

Was Michael Dokes in an exhibition.

 

[PittAU]

I think you are correct.

Any idea who that other boxer is?

It's not Frazier or Norton. I think that was the exhibition TV match vs Michael Dokes. It was in 1977 and not on Ali's official record.

 

[NC Panther]

I watched the Ali-Foreman fight on closed circuit TV at the Johnstown War Memorial Arena - will never forget it.

 

[PeetWeet1]

Foreman tried that too with Ali on the ropes.


Here’s what did happen, as TIME reported in the Nov. 11, 1974, issue:


By giving up on the “floating like a butterfly” that had made his career, Muhammad Ali won the match in the eighth round.

IMO, this is the greatest sporting match/ game of all time. It was absolutely insane. So insane, despite the success of the tactic, it hasn’t been copied.

 

[HOF Coach]

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Balboa did it to clubber lang in rd 2. Not the fight in spectrum but the MSG fight in nyc.