Foreman never hit Ali with his best shot, right?

Foreman definitely did hurt Ali but Ali had ATG grit n durability. He held on, literally, and popped George w straight shots outlasting him as George's stamina wasn't the best. Don't get it twisted, Foreman was still a monster and pre fight I get why he was the favourite. It's easy for us to question that after the fact as well as having decades of watching it.

 

I had to go back and watch round 1 John. As is typical when you and I talk, you are correct. I think what was throwing my memory off was that I don't remember Foreman going for the head as much, which of course would be the most aggressive thing you could do. Now, Foreman landed almost nothing to the head in round 1, but as you say, I observed in the rewatch Ali tied him up every time he went for the head, and Foreman basically tried to make the best of the situation and wail at the body, which to be fair is not really George's repertoire. I think I had a logical reason for misremembering, but you are correct, and have obviously won this debate.

May I just add, I forgot how wild that first round was!

 

Ali put Big George in a headlock at the end of the first round. Sugar Ray Leonard also put Marvelous in a headlock at the end of the first round of their fight. That was intentional.

 

Those straight rights had to be humiliating to George because they're the most dangerous punches to attempt because it takes longer to deliver.

 

It's very important to go back and watch these fights when we're discussing them. These things wouldn't happen as often if that was the case methinks.

I believe sometimes when I think of the Rumble, I always remember the wild slugfest at the end of round 5 where George landed the most punches, and the biggest ones, but also punched himself out, that uppercut he landed in round 7, and then the knockout in round 8. And sometimes when I've watched the fight in the past, it has occurred to me that rounds 2-4 are not as exciting as you tend to remember for a fight of that caliber. So it really surprised me the swinging they did in round 1. Not typically the round my mind goes to when thinking of Rumble in the Jungle either.

 

That's because he did what Cus told him. He went to see Cus before the fight and Cus told him George is a bully and if you take the fight to him he'll fade.

 

That's why you always win!!!

Yeah, I don't think anybody was really expecting Ali to come out and take the play away from George in the 1st. Evidently he probably did it to disrupt George's psych and freak him out.

 

2 shots actually. The one you described to the jaw that sent Ali reeling, and I believe the 5th round is when he threw the hardest body shot he could but Ali endured it and taunted George to deflate him and it worked.

George obviously couldn't consistently land with his best shots on Ali. Too elusive, too much grappling, too effective at using the ropes and countering/framing to neutralize the power. Ali possibly reduced George's power by as much as 20-40% with these tactics throughout the fight only occasionally getting hit by a flush bomb and mostly to the stomach since his head movement was some of the best it had been in the 70's.

 

What round was it when Ali hit him with four straight jabs to the face?

 

The first round was one of the ATG opening stanzas. Lead right hands - seemingly audacious on paper but Ali was easily landing them - and they were badly intended and landing hard.

When Ali sat down after the first round that look on his face was priceless - eyes narrowed, looking across the ring at George.

He had that realistic look - “Okay, this isn’t going to be easy - but the reality is now upon us (first round nerves somewhat exhausted)I’ve sent a strong message to George and I’m sure I will get this sucker ultimately”.

No coincidence that Ali, 10 years prior, also came out blazing in round 1 to make a statement and set the tone against another big favourite in Liston.

Even with just those respective first rounds in the bag, I’m sure a lot pre-fight perceptions and beliefs were drastically altered - including those of both Liston and Foreman themselves.

 

Muhammad managed to slip a great deal of the heavy shots George threw and slipped or blocked the rest to the head. Foreman did get some bodyshots through with full force though. Obviously hurt but Ali put on a very convincing show of making out they did n't. Nonetheless it displayed what amazing condidtion he was in to take them without being hurt enough to bring his hands right down.

 

Wasn’t it always Round 3 George said he hit Ali with his best? Tales get told and retold so often, there’s always about 10 different versions.