Remembering Foreman — a nod to boxing’s glory days

By Nizamuddin Siddiqui

Both Muhammad Ali and George Foreman had to struggle hard to regain their titles

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

March 22, 2025

GEORGE Foreman, arguably one of the most feared boxing champions in history, has passed away at the age of 76. An obituary described him as “one of the great second acts in sports,” highlighting his remarkable comeback to reclaim the heavyweight boxing title after coming out of retirement.

Reflecting on his life in a post on Instagram, Foreman’s family wrote: “A humanitarian, an Olympian, and a two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name...”

However, in Pakistan Foreman was primarily known as the massive boxer whom our childhood hero, Muhammad Ali, defeated to reclaim his own heavyweight title in 1974. This victory corrected a historic injustice inflicted upon Ali seven years earlier when he was stripped of his title for refusing to join America’s war in Vietnam. Ali famously declared that he did not see the Viet Cong as his enemy, stating that if he had conflicts with anyone, it was with the Americans who discriminated against Black people.

His refusal to join the war coupled with his bold statement infuriated the American establishment, which not only stripped him of his heavyweight title but also revoked his boxing licence. As a result, Ali was deprived of his right to earn a living as a prizefighter, rendering him financially destitute overnight.

By the time Ali faced Foreman for the title match in 1974, in what was then called Zaire, he had put in six years of relentless struggle. He first had to regain his boxing licence and then work his way back up the ranks of elite fighters to earn another shot at the heavyweight championship. Along the way, he suffered significant setbacks, including a defeat at the hands of his relentless and determined opponent, Joe Frazier, who was then the reigning world champion.

Here’s where the story took an unexpected turn. As Ali was rebuilding his career, Frazier himself was defeated by Foreman in a title match. The shock was not just that Frazier lost the match, but the brutal manner in which this transpired. The fight was so one-sided that “Smokin’ Joe” was knocked down multiple times, demonstrating that the new champion, Foreman, was leagues ahead of the man who had previously beaten Ali convincingly.

In the years that followed, Foreman built a formidable reputation by dispatching his opponents quickly, often knocking them out within the first few rounds. By the time Ali stepped into the ring to face him on that fateful night, he had a monumental challenge ahead. However, ever the brilliant strategist, Ali devised an ingenious plan to defeat his most formidable opponent yet.

He introduced the “rope-a-dope” strategy — a highly risky tactic in which he leaned against the ropes, inviting Foreman to unleash his powerful punches round after round. The goal was to tire out the reigning champion. Ali confided in his trusted trainer, Angelo Dundee, that Foreman had rarely fought beyond five rounds and was likely not equipped for a prolonged battle.

The strategy seemed simple but carried enormous risk. A single misstep by Ali or a successful counterattack by Foreman could have ended the fight — perhaps even Ali’s career. This uncertainty gripped us as we watched the match in real time, broadcast from Kinshasa, Zaire, via satellite on Pakistan Television.

It was around 3 or 4 in the morning when I sat down with my father and brother to watch the fight. Every punch Foreman threw — which Ali either absorbed or dodged — sent us into a frenzy. Throughout the early rounds, it seemed inevitable that Ali would lose, as Foreman appeared to dominate while Ali merely leaned against the ropes. We endured seven nerve-wracking rounds, convinced our hero was on the verge of defeat.

Then, in the eighth round, Ali suddenly sprang into action, unleashing a barrage of punches that sent Foreman crashing to the canvas. Somewhere in those earlier rounds, the momentum had subtly shifted in Ali’s favour. By then, the world champion was so exhausted that just a few well-placed blows from Ali sealed the outcome. We could hardly believe our eyes as Ali raised his arms in triumph. It was at that moment that the world finally acknowledged what we had always known — the man who had stunned everyone by refusing to enlist in war was, in fact, “The Greatest.”

That legendary fight took place on October 30, 1974, and was famously dubbed the “Rumble in the Jungle.” After that bout, Foreman continued fighting for a few more years before retiring in 1977 following a loss to Jimmy Young.

A decade later, in 1987, Foreman made a stunning comeback at the age of 38. It took him another seven years to reclaim the heavyweight title; so in 1994, at the age of 45, he defeated Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

Foreman’s story — like Ali’s before him — is a testament to the power of perseverance. Their careers prove that even seemingly impossible feats can be achieved with relentless effort and determination.