October 30 1974

“Ali Boom I ay!” “Ali Boom I ay” “Ali kill him!” translated into English.  The cheers ring round a Kinshasa stadium sitting in the heart of Africa – now the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The humidity adds to the atmosphere as the heavyweight champion of the world and overwhelming favourite George Foreman waits in his corner, ready to fight former champion Muhammad Ali, the hostile crowd and potentially the Zaire rainy season.

The fight is for the heavyweight championship of the world, but far more is at stake, a fight between two Americans has become more than just a boxing match.  Each fighter represents something to the Africans and people around the world; Foreman, rightly or wrongly represents America, the ‘institution’ and Ali, the underdog, represents Africa, ‘the people’.  But how did this happen? Let’s go back and find out.

April 28 1967

The build up to the greatest boxing match in history arguably started on this date.  The Vietnam War had been raging since the early part of the decade, a disproportionate number of black Americans were sent to Vietnam, which incensed black communities.  Ali, who had failed the entry exam to the army (He was later diagnosed with Dyslexia) was later reclassified and subsequently drafted.  Prior to his draft he had converted to Islam, and going to war would have been against his religious beliefs.  It must be pointed out that this conversation had made him rather unpopular with the American public, as the Black Muslims were seen as a militant group.

Ali refused to step forward to be drafted and his punishment was swift and severe.  The US government stripped him of his heavyweight title, took his passport and gave him a 5 year suspended prison sentence.  These actions eventually bankrupted Ali, unable to work, the tide of public opinion started to turn in his favour, particularly as the government had effectively made him a martyr, coupled with the growing anti-war movement – of which he would take centre stage.

Life without Boxing

Banned from fighting, vilified by the American government, frustrated with the lack of equality in the so called ‘land of the free’, Ali did the only thing he knew how, he talked.  Ali went the length of breadth of America, visiting colleges and advocating his anti-war stance, civil rights and his black pride – his famous ‘Black is best’ speech is one of the better known ones.  In our day and age it sounds like racism and maybe it was, but many black Americans were not proud of their skin, they bleached it, they straitened their hair  – they needed someone like Ali, a role model – a symbol of ‘black beauty’.  A documentary from 1970, while Ali was still banned, claimed that his speeches, and what he stood for had “united young blacks and rebellious white youth”.

The road back to the ring

Ali had not only won over the American people, eventually the US government had to relent and in 1970 he was allowed to fight again while his case was pending appeal.  However, Ali had failed to regain his lost title, losing a unanimous decision to Joe Frazier.  Subsequently, Frazier was annihilated by George Foreman in 1973, which set up the Ali/Foreman fight, which would become known as ‘The rumble in the jungle.’

The Rumble in the Jungle

In the 1990 documentary ‘When we were kings’ it was found that many of the African people did not know what Ali or Foreman looked like.  And were surprised to see Ali was lighter than Foreman.  Foreman sealed his role as the ‘American’ by bringing his German Shepherd dog along, offending the people of Zaire as the breed was used by the Belgians to keep order during colonialism.

But the actual fight was remembered for a different reason.  Nobody thought Ali could win!  Ali had said he was going to dance, that he was too fast for Foreman, but in the first round Ali tried a daring and potentially dangerous move.  He threw a succession of ‘right hand leads’ at Foreman.   A right hand lead is seldom performed in professional boxing as you leave yourself open for a left hook.  In fact, it is almost an insult to throw one, implying your opponent is slow, as your hand had to travel further across your body.  Ali was to trying to knock Foreman out, but it didn’t work, instead causing Foremen to fly into a torrent of attack.  Ali wasn’t dancing; in fact he was on the ropes.

And as he was on the ropes he was talking to Foreman, winding him up, causing round after round of attacks, people thought this was the end of Ali, but between rounds he would wink at the crowd and call out “Ali Boom I ay!”

Round after round Ali stayed on the ropes and talked to Foreman, and by the 5^th round Foreman was beginning to punch himself out.  And by the 8^th, Ali decided it was time make history.  With Foreman resting on Ali, his punches lacking bite or power,  Ali exploded into action, unleashing a combination of punches that culminated in an accurate straight right, which knocked Foreman to the canvas and out for the count.

As the bout finished, the rain that has seemed so threatening arrived, amid scenes of mass jubilation.  The man who has lost his title for standing up for his beliefs had gained it back and with it united at least two demographics of American people for the first time.

About the Author: Matthew White is a copywriter for Fresh Egg.  His client deals with a different kind of ‘spa-ing’ providing Gift vouchers and spa gifts for quality spa experiences.

Photo Credit: Galaxy fm.

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