Winning battle of the wits just as important as bossing a fight

BESIDES being dubbed as the biggest sporting event of the 20th century – and arguably the biggest fight to ever take place on the African continent – the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire in 1974 was a fight that had a very crucial boxing lesson for decades to come.

Other than the fact that Muhammad Ali retained his world heavyweight title by knocking out a much younger and dangerous George Foreman, it is Ali’s ability to spot an opportunity and make use of it that added some spice to his victory.

Using the “rope-a-dope” style, Ali dragged Foreman to a tiresome eight rounds – until he landed a straight right that wobbled him.

He followed up with a crisp combination that sent Foreman crumbling to the canvas.

Ali displayed an uncanny ability to exploit his opponents vulnerability for his own advantage.

He knew after that right hand that it was time to close the show – and he did it in style.

He displayed a rare decision-making ability, second-to-none.

Boxers are very different in their styles and approach to fights.

Some boxers prefer setting traps by applying a systematic approach to wear their opponents down, while some are vicious while possessing a natural instinct for finishing off an opponent.

Those are the boxers that add excitement and thrill to the game and have a cross-over appeal – even to a non-boxing audience. Think of Mike Tyson, Julian Jackson, Felix Trinidad to name but a few.

Good finishers are like bloodthirsty scavengers, who when they smell a weakness, swarm on the prey mercilessly – and tear it to shreds.

It is always key to have a strong psychological make-up to compliment – and compensate – for the flaws that the physical make-up might have.

The physical make-up of the boxer is what the audience/fans see with the naked eye.

The audience sees the fitness levels, the execution of the fight plan and even the general conduct and physical preparedness of the boxer during the fight.

Psychological make-up is key and equally important in order for the physical to be effective.

A major aspect of psychological readiness is the ability to make sound decisions to spot opportunities and to make use of those opportunities.

To some boxers killer instinct is an innate quality while in others it is a quality that can be taught and mastered over time.

Be that as it may, a boxer has to be decisive when opportunities avail themselves.

Admittedly, a boxer could go to the fight with a well-thought out plan to outsmart his foe for the full duration of the fight but still that boxer has to be alert enough not to miss out on opportunities to end the fight early – if it presents itself.

Great finishers share one great quality and that is the ability to independently spot an opportunity to never let their opponent off the hook.

Remember how Tyson blew Frank Bruno away with a 13-punch combination that forced Mills Lane to stop the fight?

That is killer instinct right there! What Ali did in the Rumble in the Jungle is testimony that the perfect time to end a fight need not be late but just be on time .

One has to be alert enough to tell when it is the right time to finish off a fight.