On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round of a 15-round bout in Kinshasa, Zaire, to regain his world heavyweight title. The WBA/WBC championship boxing match was dubbed Rumble in the Jungle.
This is the story in photos:
Workers are busy with preparations on August 12, 1974 at the main entrance of the May 20 Stadium in Kinshasa.
Zaire dancer with spear moves ahead of Muhammad Ali through welcoming crowded at Kinshasa airport, September 10, 1974. Ali arrived in a chartered Air Zaire plane from Paris.
Heavyweight champion George Foreman, left, and former heavyweight champion Archie Moore share a light moment at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1974.
World heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman signs autograph for unidentified cook during a news conference, Sept. 11, 1974 at Orly Field, outside Paris, where he made brief stopover.
Muhammad Ali reads one his famous pre-fight poems, to reporters at his training camp in N?Sele near Kinshasa, Zaire, Sept. 12, 1974. In his poem, Morning Shave.
Muhammad Ali, due to fight George Foreman, world heavyweight champion, Sept. 24, 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire, tells a crowd of boxing fans in N’ Sele, Thursday, Sept. 12, 1974 “Ako bo mai ye,” which translates from Zaire’s Lingalla dialect as: “I will kill him.” The fight had to be rescheduled to October 29, 1974 after Foreman needed to recover from an eye injury.
Muhammad Ali bends and dance steps backwards in his typical style as he works out with sparring partner Larry Holmes, left, during training rounds at the N’Sele gym this afternoon, September 14, 1974, near Kinshasa. Date: 14/09/1974
Archie Moore, right, former light heavyweight champion, gives a few words of advice to George Foreman.
Foreman works out – October 15th.
Muhammad Ali poses in front of the Stanley statue in Kinshasa, Zaire, Sept. 17, 1974.
With fans
Leaving In Style
Zaire’s President Mobutu Sese Seko, center, raises the arms of heavyweight champ George Foreman, left, and Muhammad Ali, right, in Kinshasa. Date: 22/09/1974
Muhammad Ali plays a few notes on the piano while visiting black American artists that perform in the Zaire 74 music festival in Kinshasa, Zaire, Sept. 22, 1974. At right is the American rhythm and blues singer Etta James. Musicians and artists were rehearsing at Kinshasa Hotel. The festival lasts from September 21-23.
Muhammad Ali and his trainer Bundini Brown watch a Zaire native dancer balancing a wooden chair with his teeth, Sept. 29, 1974.
George Foreman working out after his eye injury in preparation for his fight against Muhammad Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire on Oct. 2, 1974.
World heavyweight champion George Foreman, left, runs at dawn, with his brother, Robert, along the Zaire banks of the Congo River on his daily 6-mile road work exercise in Kinshasa, Zaire, Oct. 5, 1974.
Muhammad Ali, right, lifts himself off both feet during sparring practice October 21, 1974 with Roy Williams at the N’ Sele training center near Kinshasa, Zaire. Ali predicted Monday that his scheduled 15 round title bout Oct. 30, 1974 with George Foreman, world heavyweight champion, “will not go the full distance.”
Fight promoter Don King, standing, speaks at a press conference October 22, 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire. Muhammad Ali holds the head of his cornerman Drew Bundini Brown.
Muhammad Ali plants kiss on cheek of young girl at his training camp in Zaire, Oct. 26, 1974.
Heavyweight champion George Foreman responds to cheers of crowd in stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire Saturday night, October 26, 1974 during weigh in for his title defence against Muhammad Ali . Foreman’s manager Dick Sadler, with hat at left, talks with Don King, partially shown. At right, in white hat is Archie Moore, former light heavyweight champion, who is Foreman’s trainer.
U.S. former football star and movie actor James Brown, right, and former World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier arrived at Kinshasa airport from New York to watch tomorrows heavyweight championship fight between Ali and Foreman. Frazier is being kissed by an unidentified American admirer. Man in the background not identified. Date: 28/10/1974
Muhammad Ali and his wife take a boat ride in Kinshasa, Zaire, Sept. 29, 1974.
Ali Arrives
The Fight
The End
The Greatest
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