Maybe he got hookers, IDK. Foreman might have known what and when to drink, but why assume he was able to do what he knew to do? Also it is hard to believe that Foreman did not feel threatened 1 way or another.
Foreman hated Zaire. He was mean when he arrived and he was meaner when he finaly entered the ring. He had no fears, no respect and as the fight progressed his rage burning inside turned out to be his own worst enemy. In 1974, the whole world but Foreman knew Ali could´nt dance for 15 rounds. But he wanted to kill Ali with every punch he threw and his wild punhes gave Ali no reason to dance. Foreman forgot his jab, did not take his time. Foreman should have taken possison of the middle of the ring, tight defence and jab, jab, jab - let Ali do the dancing, the moving around the ring. That´s the way he had handled Frazier, waiting for the chance. It took Foreman years to understand that there were no excuses, nobody to blame but himself.
It took Foreman no time to know that if he told the entire truth and everything he knew, he would have stained his own legacy too. At least during and after his 2nd career. Maybe his new found belief kept him from telling the truth before it, or maybe it did not, he already told it, but it made him lie afterwards. ___________ Being a commentator for HBO must have had influence on him too, and Mirena becoming his manager, and Saddler appearing later in Ali's corner (so I read) is like Joe Frazier becoming James Broad's trainer after he KOd his son and James Smith's too, and surprise, both men "lost" to Marvis as professionals and fought each other too, ending with a suspicious "body punch" (seemed low to me) which KOd a top 5 punch proven heavyweight in James Smith. And Smith did not complain about it and also did not try to get up.
If Foreman at his best didn't even come close to beating Ali, what is a mentally weaker foreman going to do to change the result? After Zaire, Foreman slowed his pace down to stop himself from gassing, this would benefit the older battle worn Ali who was always too smart, too durable for any Foreman. Ali would win a comfortable decision
It really is a good fight to watch. Most folks don't like it, but I do. I actually had a chance to go to it and declined. Good seats too. I didn't like that fight and the undercard was woeful--Norton against 82 year old Stander and Holmes taking on Philly gym guy Roy Williams. a poor man's Ernie Terrell, if you will. Now, I wish I'd have gone. But I love the way Jimmy got Ali to fall for feints. nobody did that to Ali and I really like that straight right hand of Jimmy's landed clean. It was so hard to hit Ali clean with punches and Jimmy landed as many as anyone. For some reason I don't get, the Leonard--Benetiz fight is heralded as a terrific boxing match. Even with the ref waving it off in the 15th. But the Ali fight isn't. Well I guess the Leonard folks don't go for the clinic Camacho did to Ray either in another matchup of top shelf boxers. A funny sport sometimes with how certain fights are held in esteem. Nothing holds up better than a slugfest or a destruction. Me, I like taken apart best. Then, it's a boxing match like the Ali/Young fight. Then, destruction.
He looked pretty tasty in the second Norton and Frazier fights. Forget the Rudi Lubbers bout in between the two - Muhammad knew he would n't have to extend himself in that one.
There are many ways to view the fight in Zaire. We know that Foreman was bored and hated Zaire. Ali would get bored too - but when wife went away back home, he got involved in a love-story - and time spend away, far from home in Zaire suddenly were´nt that bad. It did´nt spoil Ali´s mood to get out bed every morning for roadwork. He did´nt have to keep himself on a strict diet. If you´re in love - food is not your sparetime priority. Everything went Ali´s way. Who to blame ? Well, a couple of years later God send George an message - he wanted George to preach - and so he did. Maybe Veronica was send by God - she just knocked on the wrong door ?