Remembering the Rumble

[soul_survivor]

This marks the 40th anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle, quite possibly the most famous boxing match ever and one of the most iconic sporting evens in history. So were any of you alive back then? What did it mean in 1974? How has this fight lasted so long and endured so much? Why has there never been another bout like it?

Discuss.

[Dr Rumack]

My mother tells me my Grandad used to get up in the middle of the night to listen to all the great heavyweight bouts of that era on the radio. He was a huge Ali fan, but he passed away a year before this fight and it's always been a poignant memory for her. My cousin, also his grandson, is in graphic design and did all the artwork for the release and promotion of 'When We Were Kings' in the UK, a small tribute to our grandfather I guess.

The story of the fight itself is amazing, although I think Foreman was unfairly portrayed a lot of the time, in order to make Ali look even more incredible. I don't know if boxing could ever capture the imagination of the world like that again. So many factors made it the special event it was. Recreating it seems impossible. You'd need another Ali for a start.

[Szef]

I've read that Ali and Foreman will be watching their fight together.

[soul_survivor]

My mother tells me my Grandad used to get up in the middle of the night to listen to all the great heavyweight bouts of that era on the radio. He was a huge Ali fan, but he passed away a year before this fight and it's always been a poignant memory for her. My cousin, also his grandson, is in graphic design and did all the artwork for the release and promotion of 'When We Were Kings' in the UK, a small tribute to our grandfather I guess.

The story of the fight itself is amazing, although I think Foreman was unfairly portrayed a lot of the time, in order to make Ali look even more incredible. I don't know if boxing could ever capture the imagination of the world like that again. So many factors made it the special event it was. Recreating it seems impossible. You'd need another Ali for a start.

thats a cool story man, When We Were Kings is one of my fav docs!

[Porter's Dad]

I was just reading this on the Guardian.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/29/rumble-in-the-jungle-muhammad-ali-george-foreman-book-extract

[bojangles1987]

Definitely in the conversation for the greatest single win any fighter ever had. Unbelievable atmosphere, and Ali defied the odds like few could ever claim.

Ali was freaking amazing.

[SN!PER]

[The tucker]

That fight and when he beat sonny Liston was THE GOAT post fight interviews.

[jas]

The famous rope-a-dope

[SouthPawHitman]

I watched it live in Zaire as a boy. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.