If you had been in Foremans corner in 1974?

[KOJOE90]

Regarding the Rumble In The Jungle in 1974 it has often been said by some fans and writers that Foreman lost that fight as much as Ali won as Foreman fought a really dumb fight, tacticts wise.

Now my question to you all here is what else could have Foreman done that famous night in Zaire?

How do you think Foreman should have fought that night?

[BoxBuzz]

At that time Ali was just to cerebral for George. He would have had an answer for anything George could have come up with at that time in their respective careers. He was blessed with just about the only Noggin that could stand up to what George was bringing'. It was a lot about Chin and the ability to absorb. But it was also about brilliance.

Did anyone ever hurt Ali to the body? Frazier maybe but did he ever show it?

[KOJOE90]

.Did anyone ever hurt Ali to the body?

Norton did in (I think) the third fight he made Ali double over for a split second.

Having said that Ali took many huge shots to the body from some great punchers without blinking, truely amazing really. For instance in his first fight with George Chuvalo in 1966 he let the ultra-tough Chuvalo punch him to the body about 12 times in a row at one point and kept talking all the time this was happening, amazing stuff as Chuvalo was a very good body puncher.

Of course in the long run this did Ali's kidneys no good at all.

[Expug]

I would have told George to get Ali to lead with that jab of his ,parry it then step in with a double jab take a small step to his own right and then throw a right hand. Ali always moved to his left he didnt go to his right very often . George could maybe pick his shots a little better this way. It may have been a mute point however as Ali had definitely gotten in Georges head.

[revporl]

Holmes definitely hurt Ali with body shots, but Ali was well out of condition by then.

[dempseyfire]

If George Foreman had come out in Zaire constantly shooting out his left jab, like vs Chuvalo, he would have won the fight.

[Collins2000]

If George Foreman had come out in Zaire constantly shooting out his left jab, like vs Chuvalo, he would have won the fight.

Maybe, but Chuvalo was no Ali. As Boxbuzz mentioned, Ali was probably too intelligent for Foreman. Who'd have expected him to come out throwing right hands at The Mummy like he did?

Almost all the reporters picked Foreman to destroy Ali. Some people forget that now.

What a marvelous victory it was.

[KOJOE90]

.Did anyone ever hurt Ali to the body?

Norton did in (I think) the third fight he made Ali double over for a split second..

Isn't that the fight where Ali really had to take a piss?

Not sure, I do recall reading that during the ringwalk for the Foreman fight Ali realised he really needed to take a piss, but once the fight started he forgot all about it.

Whilst walking to the ring Ali was thinking "Oh no!! if George hits me to the body I may wet myself"

[Seamus]

The biggest reason of all that Ali won in Kinshasa, was because he came into the ring like a man possessed, he was psyched to the eyeballs. It was one of those occasions where one fighter just flat out refuses to lose. Foreman hit Ali with some tremendous shots that night, all to no avail. Even with the loose ropes, Ali still took plenty of wicked bodypunches. but he was prepared for it.

[bill.lockhart]

George had overwhelmed everyone else, & it appeared his corner felt he could do the same to Ali as well. Why? I don't know. Maybe it was felt that was the only way to go, but their was nothing left in the tank by round 8. George had a pretty good jab, & should have boxed Ali more. He always had the ability to end a fight immediately & wouldn't have expended anywhere near the energy. Ali was only 32 at the time. Hindsight says it may have been more effective strategy, but I don't think changed the result.

[harrygreb]

ok my advice to george before the first bell;

"right champ, you know what we're gonna do?"
"what?"
"we're gonna dance!"
"what???"
"yeah! we're gonna dance, dance, this is how we're gonna win this fight!"
"know something?"
"what, champ?"
"...cant dance"
"hmmm.....can you punch?"
"i can punch"
"do what ya can kid"

and the lesson is, when your mummy sends you to dancing school dont chill with ya homeys! go to dancing school.

[mattym]

Archie Moore was in his corner that night. Archie had actually been an early user of the old absorb punishmentuntil they can no longer give it. It worked for both men because people would think they had the old man licked versus Moore, and Foreman wasnt even surprised at Ali's tactics, he thought he didnt have a choice, because Foreman was used to trapping his opponent and giving them no other option than take a beating on the ropes. He thought it was Ali's failing rather than his tactic.

Archie saw what Ali was doing from about round 4 and told George to throw more conservative, sharper punches, and pick the openings wisely. George refused and kept fighting him in a rage of lethal but energy sapping (for Foreman rather than Ali as intended) punches. He didnt listen to Archie, and paid the price. However, after the fight, on the question of a rematch, if asked what he would change second time around to increase his chances, he just said, "well as always i'd fight him in a raaaage."

[dempseyfire]

I have always wondered what Foreman's corner, Moore in pat. were telling George in between rounds. It's a shame that was before they placed mics in the corners.

In regards to my comment about the left jab, it wouldn't have been a 'sure' thing, and Ali was much better than Chuvalo, But if you look at the fight, the few times FOreman threw straight rights and lefts he was hitting Ali solidly. It was when he threw the wide looping haymakers that Ali was able to counter so successfully.

[harrygreb]

was gil clancey with george at that time?

[HomicideHenry]

I would have told Foreman this:

"Don't go to him, let him come to you"

Lyle when he fought Ali had it right, where he wouldn't fight Ali when 'The Greatest' was doing the 'rope-a-dope'. Foreman should have done that.

Ali wouldn't have been able to dance for that many rounds against a man of Foreman's power and ferocity. Could you imagine how stupid Ali would have looked if he went to do the 'rope-a-dope' and Foreman didn't charge after him?

I could see Foreman just stand there and smile and say 'Want some? Come get some!' and Ali would have no choice but to get off the ropes and try to battle Foreman, else he would look stupid and be booed out of the ring and look like a big pussy.

[generic screen name]

hindsight is 20/20.

Lets also tell Hearns to box Hagler, Tyson not to take the Douglas fight, Walcott to slow the pace down in the later rounds against Marciano, etc.

[KOJOE90]

hindsight is 20/20.

Lets also tell Hearns to box Hagler, Tyson not to take the Douglas fight, Walcott to slow the pace down in the later rounds against Marciano, etc.

If you don't want to use hindsight maybe the Boxers Of The PAST is not the forum for your goodself.

I also don't agree that hindsight is 20/20, all the time.

[Ambling Alp]

was gil clancey with george at that time?

No, Clancy wasn't Foreman's trainer yet. He actually only trained him for a few fights.

[BoxBuzz]

I thought the notion that there were creatures with an "eye" located in that region was simply based on myth and folklore.....