The Vault
Every SI Story ... Every SI Photo ... Ever SI.COM/VAULT
EXCERPT | Nov. 11, 1974
Ringmaster
The Greatest reached deep into his bag of tricks
To tire out George Foreman, Muhammad Ali used a curious strategy—which he later termed the rope-a-dope—then knocked out the heavyweight champ in the eighth round of their title fight. George Plimpton reported from Kinshasa, Zaire.
For one sickening moment it looked as if a fix were on, that since the challenger was to succumb in the first round, it would be best if he went quickly to a corner so the champion could go to work on him. It was either that or Ali was going through the odd penitential rite he seems to insist on for each fight, letting himself suffer the best his opponent has to offer. In either case, the consequences were appalling to consider. Ali's cornermen rose as one, and they urged their man to stop what he was doing and start dancing.
Far from obliging, Ali moved from the corner to the ropes. Here was Ali, his feet square to his opponent, leaning far back out over the seats, his eyes popping wide as if at the temerity of what he was doing, while Foreman stood in front of him and began to punch—huge heavy blows thrown from down around the hips, street-fighter style, telegraphed so that Ali was able to slip and block many of them. Then, with the bell coming up for the end of the round, Ali came off the ropes. While Foreman's arms were down in punching position, Ali hit him with a series of quick, smart punches in the face, the best of them a right hand lead that knocked the sweat flying in a halo. The vast crowd roared, and perhaps there were a few who began to sense that they were not in for a night of lunacy after all.
Ali would have 14 more fights (11 of them victories) in a 61-bout career that ended in 1981, but he never faced Foreman again.
Check out SI.COM/BONUS | Breaking News | Real-time Scores | Daily Analysis
NFL
MLB
NBA
NHL
College Football
Editor's Choice
LEADERS OF THE PAC
SI.com's Stewart Mandel on Oregon's rout of USC to take control of the Pac-10:
For those of us in the press box at Autzen Stadium in Eugene last Saturday, watching Lavasier Tuinei and the rejuvenated Ducks so thoroughly dominate the Trojans, 47--20, was certifiably surreal. Quite frankly, we'd never seen such a thing. USC hadn't lost by as many as 11 points since coach Pete Carroll's first season, in 2001. Since 2002 none of the Trojans' 10 losses had come by more than a touchdown. The USC players seemed equally stunned. "Before this season I never thought this could happen," said Trojans freshman quarterback Matt Barkley.
MOST POPULAR
PETER KING'S
Monday Morning Quarterback
LaMarr Woodley and the Pittsburgh defense rise to the occasion
SI.COM'S
NBA Writers' Forecast
Can Shaq help LeBron and the Cavs bring a championship to Cleveland?
DON BANKS'S
NFL Power Rankings
Led by safety Darren Sharper, the Saints continue to hold the top spot
ON THE GO
Tweet Tweet
Follow SI.com writers, including Peter King, Don Banks, Seth Davis, Jon Heyman and Stewart Mandel every day on Twitter. Plus get Truth and Rumors and regular updates at SI_24Seven
SI Mobile
Get the latest news, live scores, photos and stories from SI.com writers, plus personalize your page with your favorite teams.
Online Cover Gallery
This Week in SI
1963
An injury epidemic raised the question of whether the violent world of the NFL had become too violent, leading the league to explore ways to curb the rough play.
1973
The flamboyant Pistol Pete Maravich (above) and the sharpshooting Sweet Lou Hudson combined to give the Hawks one of the top scoring backcourts in NBA history.
2001
Three of the final four games in this memorable World Series ended with walk-off hits, including Game 7, when the Diamondbacks rallied to beat the Yankees 3--2 in the ninth.
GALLERIES
Johnny Damon World Series
Gary Bromley NHL Goalie Masks
Mack Brown Top Dogs
PHOTO
Photograph by NEIL LEIFER
BACK AT YOU Foreman (right) threw more punches, but he was battered by an Ali flurry at the end of each round.
PHOTO
WALTER BINGHAM (REFEREE)
PHOTO
HEINZ KLUETMEIER (MARAVICH)
PHOTO
AL TIELEMANS (DIAMONDBACKS)
PHOTO
PETER READ MILLER (TUINEI)
PHOTO
DAVID WOO (BROWN)
PHOTO
BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES (BROMLEY)
PHOTO
AL TIELEMANS (DAMON)
PHOTO
SIMON BRUTY (SHARPER)
TWO PHOTOS
JOHN BIEVER (O'NEAL, WOODLEY)
PHOTO
