The Thrilla in Manila: 50 Years After the Final Bell
A color photograph of a sign celebrating "Muhammad Ali Day" in New York City, December 1974
Donated by Henry Korn in 2017.
Regaining the Title
With his confidence restored after defeating Joe Frazier in their second meeting, Ali's next goal was clear: regain his title of Heavyweight Champion. With his sights set on defeating George Foreman in the spectacle that became "The Rumble in the Jungle", Ali did not fight anyone else in the nearly nine months leading up to the title match. Instead, he spent the entire time training, as he knew Foreman was no joke after watching him defeat both Joe Frazier and Ken Norton in only two rounds. In his preparations, he perfected his new "rope-a-dope" technique in which he tired out his opponent by laying against the ropes and absorbing as many punches as he could. In addition to his training, he still had time to write poetry about the champion:
You think the world was shocked when Nixon resigned?
Wait till I whup George Foreman's behind.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see
Now you see me, now you don't
George thinks he will, but I know he won't.
I done wrassled with an alligator
I done tussled with a whale
Only last week I murdered a rock
Injured a stone, hospitalized a brick
I'm so mean I make medicine sick.
On October 30, 1974, seven years after his titles were stripped from him, Muhammad Ali regained them with a knockout win over George Foreman in the eighth round of their match.
