Rumble In The Jungle 2, who wins?

Foreman takes it, I believe that he had a chance in the first fight if it wasn't in Zaire. There isn't as much of a gap between them as many may think.

 

Foreman was mentally decimated after the loss and would go on to give some of the most embarrassing performances of his career after the loss. Ali would have won even before stepping in the ring.

 

To me, the more important answer is why Foreman did not box at all in 1975, when he was the fighter of the year in 1976?

 

Immediate rematch Ali wins and it might be quicker and easier. Past Manila it gets iffy for Ali but he still has the mental edge over young George.

 

That loss mentally destroyed him hence the fiasco in Toronto.

 

Foreman lost badly the first time. He was man-handled and knocked out with relative ease. Ali was just that much better than GF.

 

It wasn’t magic in what way was it? George Foreman was walked to the ropes and countered into submission in an uncompetitive fight he thought he was winning.

 

Foreman by decision as long as he fights a smarter fight.

 

It probably goes one of two ways:

1) Ali wins the psychological game before the match even begins. Foreman was mentally compromised and couldn't accept his loss. He could end up becoming even more tense and unsure of himself performing worse than he did the first time. Ali could play on Foreman's indecisiveness and him worrying about conserving his stamina making him think twice with tricky jittery movements and counters. If this happens, I could see Ali winning an ugly lopsided decision in a fight resembling the Young match but even worse. Foreman is even more mentally devastated and never boxes again.


2) Foreman keeps his cool and goes back to the basics. Start off with his heavy jab that was strangely absent for much of their first fight. Rather than big wide swings, throw shorter thumping clean blows to the body. Walk Ali down with an active guard and don't even bother with shots to the head for the first 4-5 rounds. Cut the ring off and rather than throwing huge bombs, just throw light pitted patter shots to score and keep Ali honest (Foreman actually did this against Lyle when he had Lyle against the ropes). Ali would realize the rope a dope isn't working and tries dancing and manages to get a way for a couple rounds but is expending a lot of energy and can't sustain it for long. Ali then tries to fight at mid range flicking jabs and 1-2's which land, but he can't open up too much at mid range without risking being nailed by those looping bombs. By round 8-9, Foreman is slightly ahead due to simply being busier and landing the cleaner shots. Ali tries running again but he is slowing down and losing steam on his punches. Round 12 and Foreman finally opens up a bit with punches to the head now that Ali's legs are dead and his body has been tenderized by brutal body shots all night. Ali changes things up with a jab and grab strategy either wrapping his head around Foreman's neck to tying up his arms to drain him and slow down the pace. This buys Ali time and he tilts the score in his favor a bit.

The 15th and final round, both men are exhausted. Foreman's output is low from all the jabs, flurries, and wrestling with a swollen bruised left eye and cement feet. Ali's arms and stomach are covered in welts and a grotesque shade of purple from so many heavy bombs. Foreman gets Ali to the ropes and the two of them give it their all with a final rally. Foreman wins a close decision 8 rounds to 7 from landing more and being busier for longer stretches. At this point in Ali's career, he did not have a lot left in the tank and probably couldn't beat a disciplined, focused Foreman without another miracle gimmick like the rope a dope. Ali was getting older while Foreman actually hadn't reached his full potential prime yet.

 

For the sake of the exercise, I’d personally keep all things equal, frozen as at just prior to the Zaire fight - meaning, George isn’t psychologically damaged for the rematch.

That way, we can examine if Foreman strategically erred in Zaire and if a modified strategy sees a different result without Foreman’s distorted mindset muddying the pure analytical waters.

Given same, I think Foreman still loses. The absolute key to Ali’s game was on his feet adaption and whatever George brought to the table second time around, Ali would adapt to that also.

If George tried to box more considerately, that would in fact be much less pressure on Ali and Muhammad would play it more conventionally himself (no rope a dope or not so much) and would outbox Foreman easily IMO.

In a rematch, Foreman might benefit from a venue:location that was less hot (Ali would also though) and not so dislocated but then Ali himself might a see properly taut canvas and a ring somewhat larger than the size of a postage stamp (16 ft?).

If I now introduce Foreman’s addled mindset post Zaire, for mine, that would only make it worse for Foreman when factored into the above analysis. Of course, this assumes a rematch during 1975, no later.

 

As long as Ali gets into shape for a quickie rematch he wins it obviously. He'd want to be in shape however.

 

To be honest, I feel like these could go either way. At one point, I feel like George could've played smarter but never showed any feats of masterfully executing a gameplan while will likely reach the limit of his prime years and simply could not compete with Foreman