The Rumble in the Jungle: Three things that made it special

“The Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman is a hallmark of professional boxing history. It highlights a golden era in the sport, where numerous legends and Hall of Famers graced the ring. With two legendary fighters headlining the event, it signifies the sport’s impact on American society–and perhaps the world.

“The Rumble in the Jungle” also set the sport in motion, paving the way for stars such as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. While the sport is trying to make a renaissance in today’s modern era, the event impacted the sports world in a big way during the 1970s.

So what made the event one-of-a-kind? What three things set this boxing match apart from other events? Are you ready to “Rumble in the Jungle?” Because it’s time to revisit this classic fight.

1.) Getting up for “The Rumble in the Jungle”

People lead busy lives, either sleeping, enjoying their time off, or working. A lot goes into taking a person from their work or sleep for a major event. That’s especially true when the fight begins at around 4 A.M. However, “The Rumble in the Jungle” was different in that one had to get up and see this fight in many parts of the globe. The match took place in Kinshasa, Zaire at the 20th of May Stadium on October 30, 1974.

But why Zaire, which was ruled by a ruthless dictator in Mobuto Sese Seko at the time? Because money was heavily involved. Sese Seko secured $10 million to host the event, which was split evenly among two fighters. Don King promised a hefty $5 million to each fighter. It was a major gamble that the sport could stomach. But it cemented boxing’s legacy in American sports, making it a part of the country’s zeitgeist.

King was well-known for over-the-top promotions and leaving boxing’s fingerprints across the globe. But this was perhaps his finest work yet, pinning two legendary boxers for the heavyweight championship. But who were these legendary fighters that made the event special?

2.) Muhammad Ali and George Foreman

As mentioned earlier, boxing had its golden era during the 1970s. With legendary fighters like Joe Frazier gracing the ring, one couldn’t turn their eyes away from a good match. In fact, the match grossed an inflation-adjusted $600 million and had an estimated 50 million viewers. On top of that, 60,000 people woke up early to watch the two legends spar live.

That’s why it made sense to book a 4 A.M. match (Kinshasa) with two of the best boxers during that time. Muhammad Ali and George Foreman made “The Rumble in the Jungle” special, with Ali introducing his “rope-a-dope” tactics against a bruting heavyweight champion in Foreman. When you have two athletes who transcended sports in the boxing ring, tickets will sell and pay-per-views will be bought.

3.) “Rumble in the Jungle” told an incredible story

Believe it or not, Muhammad Ali was a 4-1 underdog in this fight. George Foreman (40-0 entering the match) was destroying his competition as the undisputed heavyweight champion at the time. “Big George” took down superstar fighters such as Frazier, making him a force.

In a sense, it made Ali into a more likable protagonist. To become “The Greatest,” he had to overcome his greatest challenge yet; an overwhelming undisputed champion. It was a story fit for a Hollywood movie, especially after Ali won by knockout in the eighth round.

American society loves a good underdog story. Whether it’s David vs. Goliath or the smaller school upsetting the basketball blueblood in “March Madness,” it inspires people to believe anything can happen. That was the case with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” where Muhammad Ali overcame the odds and won the heavyweight championship.