Ali delivers a knockout blow

One billion viewers are gripped as the boxer fells Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle

There will never be another event like the Rumble in the Jungle. Held in Kinshasa, Zaire – now the Democratic Republic of Congo – it saw the undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, George Foreman, challenged by the former champion, Muhammad Ali. But the sporting clash was only part of the story. Formerly the Belgian Congo, Zaire had only been independent since 1960. Its military strongman, General Mobutu, had seized power with strong American support, and was keen to present himself as Africa’s leading actor on the world stage. This was a chance to cement his regime’s image and stability, and Mobutu struck a deal with the controversial promoter Don King. The purse was set at a record-breaking m for each fighter.

What followed was a circus of mind-bogling proportions. The Iht was preceded by a three-day music festival starring James Brown and BB King. Both Foreman and Ali spent weeks training in Zaire, acclimatising to the intense heat. But they encountered very different reactions. The 25-year-old Foreman never seemed comfortable, even though he was a prohibitive favourite. In contrast, the 32-yearold #li, who had refused to Iht for his country in Vietnam, was regarded as a local champion. “Ali, boma ye!” crowds chanted: “Ali, kill him!”

Due to the demands of US television, the fight itself did not being until four o'clock in the morning. The fighters entered to a tumultuous reception. As they climbed into the ring, an estimated 1 billion people were watching worldwide.

For eight rounds, Foreman hurled punch after punch at Ali, who kept to the ropes, allowing his opponent to exhaust himself. Then Ali struck, opening up with a devastating combination. After Foreman had been down for eight seconds, the referee called a halt. “Ali leaped in triumph,” said the next day’s Times, “and then fell, pushed by a mob invading the ring before he sat on his haunches while pandemonium raged above him.”