JOHN WIGHT writes on legendary boxing trainer and philosopher, Cus D’Amato
Ali v Foreman: battle of the greats
JOHN WIGHT explains how the eighth-round stoppage back in 1974 remains among the most important moments in the entire history of sports
“ATTENTION! Stop talkin’ now!”
These were the opening words of Muhammad Ali’s impromptu post-fight press conference, soon after producing the second “I shook up the world” moment of his long career.
His first such moment had come a decade previously with his victory over Sonny Liston in Miami to become the youngest heavyweight world champion at that time. This second one had come after his stunning victory over an in-prime, fearsomely fearsome George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) on October 30 1974.
More from this author
JOHN WIGHT writes on legendary boxing trainer and philosopher, Cus D’Amato
JOHN WIGHT tells the story of boxer Cuthbert Taylor, who was deemed ‘not white enough’ to be British champion, and how a Welsh theatre group have chosen to keep his name alive
JOHN WIGHT discusses how top-flight boxing is today a ‘late stage capitalist entity’
JOHN WIGHT discusses the globally known fighter’s dramatic fall from grace
Similar stories
JOHN WIGHT writes on The Greatest's solidarity with the people of Palestine
The musical progeny of the Rumble in the Jungle, and contemporary Nigerian Afrobeat
JOHN WIGHT tells the fascinating story behind the boxer’s unexpected interest in the poet and lyricist when he visited Scotland in 1965