Why did Ali start off offensive and not keep the distance against Foreman?

Since against a freak like Foreman you have to get his respect quickly otherwise he will try, and likely succeed, in overwhelming you. In-stills confidence in Ali and forces Foreman to think and at least be a bit wary. Also, as you said, Foreman was an excellent ring cutter.

 

I heard he asked Cus D'Amato about strategy, and was told to go out there and hit him first; smack the bully in the nose, let him know you're not afraid. His retreat to the ropes came about as he felt how soft the ring was in the Zaire heat, he was using a lot of energy trying to dance in mush; that, and as the OP noted, Foreman was doing a superb job of cutting off the ring - Sadler and Moore taught him well.

 

Was hitting him w lead rights no less!! Was a mental attack as well as physical.

 

I'm sure the temperature and humidity were factors too. Ali actually moved around a decent amount in the first half of the round, but he was definitely trying to land hard punches and not just running.

 

it was to send out a psychological message. Foreman was bothered by it

Plus, Ali's punches helped wear Foreman down. It wasn't just Foreman punching himself out. Ali staggered Foreman with right hand leads several times, especially in round 3

Ali said in his autobiography (according to a Monte Cox article) that he couldn't dance for 15 rounds anymore, and that he would slow down and Foreman would catch up to him.

It was a genius strategy, possibly the best strategy any boxer ever came up with.

 

Yep.

 

I think the fight became more and more about energy conservation in that hot climate. And Ali knowing his opponent would fire first

 

I rather like Foremans take on The Fight he was once asked " didn,t Ali use a brilliant strategy " came the reply " what choice did he have " the inference being , the rope a dope wasn't a thought out plan, some men are born great, some men achieve greatness, some men have greatest thrust upon them, maybe Ali had the ROD thrust upon him ?

 

Ali totally psyched George with the lead rights. And they were no-joke right hands, you can see George's face looking already plastered even in the first round. Those punches hurt.

I think George was doomed right around the time Ali landed that right hand in his corner. George was obviously even more astonished than hurt by such impudence. Ali had no intention of letting George dictate anything...except his own demise.

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I totally agree with the assessment that Muhammad Ali being the aggressor in the first round was a psychological ploy meant to gain George Foreman's respect. It was kind of like when Ali tagged Sonny Liston with a jarring right hand on May 25 1965, before landing the Phantom Punch that eventually took out Liston. But Ali was prepared to dance non stop in 1965, where Ali could not in 1974, his legs were not what they used to be. Archie Moore and D. Sadler knowing this probably instructed George to cut off the ring, which he did in round 1, thus the birth of The Rope A Dope, which spelled defeat for George.

 

We are in agreement, and welcome back.

 

Thank you my friend, glad to be back.

 

He originally planned to fight in his usual style,but finding himself cornered by Foreman's excellent ring cuttingm and getting winded early he made up the rope a dope on the spot.

 

Yep. The way Foreman was cutting off the ring Ali had no choice but to stand and fight