Rumble in the Jungle: Ultra rare photos of Muhammad Ali preparing for George Foreman fight re-emerge 50 years on
ULTRA rare photos have re-emerged of Muhammad Ali preparing for his Rumble in the Jungle epic with George Foreman 50 years ago.
The two men collided in boxing’s greatest battle to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Foreman, 25 years old at the time, came in as clear favourite with a 100 per cent record boasting 40 wins and 37 KOs.
But he was upstaged by the legendary Ali in front of a 60,000-strong crowd in Zaire, now Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The former heavyweight king, who was 32 years old back then, was looking to reclaim his belts seven years after they were stripped from him for refusing to enlist in the Vietnam War.
Ali used all his trademark skills, as well as a new “rope-a-dope” tactic, to earn an incredible eighth-round knockout.
And with an estimated one BILLION viewers watching from home, the result saw Ali become boxing’s biggest draw once again.
SunSport’s man Colin Hart, the last British reporter alive who was at the Rumble in the Jungle, brought fans all the info before, during and after the fight.
But now, extremely rare of photos of Ali have emerged showing him getting ready to fight Foreman half a century ago.
Taken from Reel Art Press book, Muhammad Ali: Fighter’s Heaven 1974, the amazing images show Ali can be seen taking in the sights and sounds of Zaire before entering the ring.
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One snap shows him contemplating tactics, with another detailing some of his training skills while greeting adoring fans.
Elsewhere, a fine photo depicts Ali laughing out loud while being driven in a car.
And another has him posing for a photo outside his living quarters.
After the fight, Ali – who died in 2016 aged 74 – and Foreman – now aged 75 – put their differences aside and became the firmest of friends.
Foreman said in 2012: “We fought in 1974, that was a long time ago. After 1981, we became the best of friends.
“By 1984, we loved each other. I am not closer to anyone else in this life than I am to Muhammad Ali.”
I'm the last British reporter alive who was at Rumble in the Jungle... it was the most bizarre 10 days of my life
OCTOBER 30th 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle, when Muhammad Ali confirmed his immortality by knocking out George Foreman to regain the world heavyweight championship, writes Colin Hart.
That fabulous, mind-blowing fight that took place before an African dawn broke over Kinshasa has been described as the greatest sporting event of the 20th Century.
Sadly, I’m the only British journalist who was at ringside that night who is still alive to tell the tale – of the most bizarre ten days of my working life.
The first bell in Zaire sounded at 4am and the two men were each paid $5million – with president Mobutu Sese Seko putting up the money.
Mobutu was probably the most terrifying, murderous dictator who ever ruled a nation on the African continent — and with Uganda’s Idi Amin as a rival, that is saying something.
The Zairians were scared to death of him, with good reason – as the 20th of May Stadium’s walls pock-marked with holes from firing squads executing dissidents.
He even threatened to shoot telex operators who were caught sleeping when journalists wanted to send their stories to editors back home.
And that’s before the fight even started, with its throbbing tribal drums, 60,000 frenzied fans… and the debut of Ali’s iconic rope-a-dope.
Read Fleet Street boxing legend COLIN HART’S full look back at the Rumble in the Jungle…