BoxRec

In The Rumble in the Jungle and The Thrilla in Manila, the ropes were very, very loose. Rumour had it that Angelo loosened the ropes, so Ali could lean back out of harm's way.

Fact: The ropes were very loose in these fights?

Work of Angelo? Did it help Ali?

Have always heard that before the fight (I think the day before) Dundee noticed that the ropes were loose and didn't do protest it. Foreman's people could have.

Don't recall anyone say anything about the ropes at the 3rd Frazier fight.

Obviously if it wasn't for the ropes Ali would have lost these fights.

I'm not saying Ali would have lost the fights, but it's at least possible. I recently rewatched (or at least the highlights) of these two fights and GF barely missed Ali's chin a few times with monstrous hooks while Ali was leaning way, way back. Ali was practically in the first row! Boxing, like most sports, is a game of inches.

In Manilla, you can see Duane Bobick trying t frantically tighten the also very loose ropes while his brother was losing to future champ Larry Holmes.