13. Vs. Joe Frazier (Super Fight Two): January 24th, 1974
The big knock on this fight was that it was not for a heavyweight title, but that didn’t stop it from being a big deal. To raise the stakes, the winner of the fight was also going to get a shot at current champion, George Foreman. The fight went for the entire 12 rounds, but Ali was announced the champion by unanimous decision. Boxing critics praised Ali for his ability to switch up his tactics from the first fight, preventing Frazier from working up close and personal, which was his strength.
Not to mention it is clear that Ali is a prideful man, so you can imagine getting revenge on Frazier must have felt pretty sweet.
12. Vs. George Foreman (The Rumble In The Jungle): October 29th, 1974
When Ali defeated Frazier during their second bout, it set the scene for what is famously dubbed “The Rumble In the Jungle”. The event pitted champion George Foreman against Ali, and it is well described by boxing enthusiasts as being one of the greats sporting events of the 20th century. To make things even more interesting, Joe Frazier was part of the color commentary team. It was during this bout that Ali implemented the rope-a-dope strategy, allowing Foreman to punch him in the ribs and arms, knowing that it would eventually tire him out and then he could lay into his face. In the 8th round, Ali connected with a 5-punch combination that put Foreman onto his back. While he got up at the count of 9, the referee ended the bout.
The fight helped Ali reaffirm to the world that he was in fact the greatest in the world. Unfortunately for the world, there was never a rematch between the two men. Over time, Ali and Foreman grew to be incredibly close. When he was asked his thoughts on him, Foreman stated “[Ali is] the greatest man I’ve ever known. Not greatest boxer, that’s too small for him. He had a gift. He’s not pretty, he’s beautiful. Everything America should be, Muhammad Ali is.”
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