Rumble In The Jungle 40 years on

[SCOTTISH LEEDS]

The greatest fight of my lifetime remembered 40 years ago today:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/29796214

[Selby White]

Arguably Ali's finest hour, Big George was a beast and I believe the top man in an era of superb heavyweights.

Along with Marciano my three favorite heavy's of all time.

[johnh]

I remember getting up in the early hours to watch the first Ali v Liston fight in 1964. We had been married for 4 years and had just got our first TV. To watch this 'live' from America was a technological miracle at the time. The odd thing is that Ali wasn't popular at the time, most thought he was a big-head and most wanted Liston to win and 'teach him a lesson'!

[Davycc]

I just remember it. my dad had to put 10p in the gas meter when our old gas TV cut out half way through, he was raging with my mum as she hadn't topped up that evening.

[birkybullufc]

Ali was one of my first sporting heroes. A biography about him was the first book hired from the school library. Watched most of his fights. Lost a lot of respect for him though after his treatment of Joe Frazier. Especially when big Joe campaigned to get Ali back fighting as much as anyone. When Joe came across Ali when he was broke, Big Joe helped him out a lot. Ali's behaviour in the build up to the Thriller in Manilla was inexcusable and lacked any class whatsoever.
But what Ali did to Foreman after what Foreman had done to Frazier before was one of the greatest sporting performances.

[Lee]

Before my time but will have to track it down off the internet. Is this the fight with the rope a dope tactic or was that a different fight?

[birkybullufc]

yep

[Aces]

I watched it live with my dad, Ali was the biggest sporting superstar ever, I loved him.

[NottinghamWhite]

We had a lock in at my local pub to watch the fight. Pretty sure it was the night one of the local bobbies knocked on the door & came in to watch. His attitude was to lock ins at least he knew where everyone was. As for Ali he claimed to be the greatest & he certainly lived up to that boast. During my time I've seen live...

Piggot win The Derby
Sobers get a century
Pele score a goal
Harlem Globetrotters play in London
Leeds win 3 titles
Leeds win the FA Cup

The only regret I have is I never saw Ali fight live.

Floats like a butterfly & stings like a bee.

[ben87]

Ali's record is second to none,
FraZier x2
Liston x2
Patterson x2
Cooper x2
Foreman
Bonevena
Terrell
Chavalo
Shavers
Norton (though I think norton god jobbed hard in the third fight)
Quarry,


You could go on and on, no other heavyweight in history even come close to having a record that good