You suddenly realised there was design in this madness. ibid. George Plimpton
Hard put to find anyone in American life who is more affable than George Foreman. Foreman has become a fabulous person in American life. ibid.
He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. He loves being Muhammad Ali. ibid.
Me
We. ibid. Muhammad Ali’s minimalist poem
3v George Foreman: The Rumble in the Jungle 30th October 1974 Kinshasa Zaire: [preamble] This is the fight of a lifetime. Never has there been a more bizarre and extraordinary and colourful setting for any Heavyweight championship than this ... [r1] ... Ali is dancing but he is also slugging and he is connecting ... Good right from Ali. What an amazing man Ali is ... He is going out fighting ...[r2] ... Get off the ropes, they are saying to Ali ... Two of the most remarkable rounds you will ever see ... [r3] ... Ten million dollars of violence. There’s an urgency about Foreman – he wants to get this over. Ali tonight standing on the ropes more than I’ve ever seen him before ... And it’s almost as if Ali is making him tire himself out ... Oh what a good right hand. Tremendous blows from Ali at the end of that round ... Some of this action is almost beyond belief ... [r4] ... Good sharp stinging punches from Ali in this round ... Again and again Ali intends to stay on the ropes which is very surprising ... Like two men slugging it out on the cobblestones ... Good jabs from Ali ... I’ve got them dead level ... [r5] ... A lot of these punches are going round the back of Ali’s neck and his arms. Ali looks like he’s coasting this one. Ali hardly throwing a punch for a minute. Covering up quite effective ... Or is he just letting Foreman punch himself out? How do you know with this incredible man? ... First punches for two minutes from Ali. And that’s what he has left at the end of all that! Ali looks out and he winks at somebody over the ropes ... [r6] ... I’m beginning to think it’s the greatest world Heavyweight championship I have ever seen. And these punches are beginning to rock Foreman. Foreman’s legs look very shaky to me ... Foreman is getting desperately tired ... There are only token punches only to keep the aggression going ... Ali can win this. Taking most of these on the arms ... [r7] ... And he talks to the crowd ... These are only sparring-partner slaps that Foreman is putting in ... We might just be about to see the second man in history to regain the Heavyweight title ... [r8] ... Both of Foreman’s eyes looking puffed up. Ali looking quite unmarked ... Oh he’s got him with a right hand! He’s got him! Oh you don’t believe it! And he is doing his shuffle. And I don’t think Foreman is going to get up! He’s trying to beat the count and he’s out! Oh my God! He’s won the title back at 32! Muhammad Ali! Harry Carpenter, UK fight commentary
v George Foreman: The Rumble in the Jungle 30th October 1974 Kinshasa Ziare: [r1] ... There’s Ali with a right-hand lead again! [r3] ... What a combination landed to the face of George Foreman ... Ali is getting away with hanging on to the head of George Foreman ... Ali Boom-ba-yay! – that means Ali kill him ... Continues to talk, continues to taunt ... Left, right, left to the head of George Foreman [r8] ... Thirty seconds left in Round Eight. A very even fight. Ali a sneaky right hand. Another sneaky right hand. This time he works over the shoulder of Foreman [inaudible] ... The fight is stopped! Muhammad Ali – a dramatic eight-round knockout. US fight commentary
48) Chuck Wepner KO15: The Bleeder aka Chuck TV -
‘Who cared about me yesterday, huh? Nobody!’ The Bleeder aka Chuck, Rocky, 2016
My name is Chuck Wepner. You don’t know me … Once upon a time I was the heavyweight champion of New Jersey. They called me the Bayonne Bleeder … I made a name for myself by doing a lot of crazy shit … ibid.
I may be ranked eighth in the world but I still need a fricking’ job … I was never good at roughing guys up: too nice. ibid.
They’re looking for a white guy. ibid. trainer
I gotta show them I belong there. ibid. Chuck to wife
Let’s face it, nobody gave me a chance in hell, but I didn’t care. ibid. Chuck
What good was backing up going to do? ibid.
He [Ali] got back up. Boy, was he pissed. ibid.
You hear that? Chuck Wepner: the real Rocky. ibid.
49) Ron Lyle TKO11: Harry Carpenter & UK Fight Commentary TV -
v Ron Lyle 16th May 1976 Las Vegas: [r1] … This audience is packed with what has become known as the Beautiful People ... This is a nonsensical start to a World Heavyweight championship ... He’s only thrown one good punch so far this round … [r2] ... And for the first time Ron Lyle gets an inkling of what the man can do … [r3] ... Talking to him the whole time ... Lyle’s jabs only half-hearted … [r4] ... He doesn’t know how to deal with the cupped hand defence of Ali … [r5] ... Now round five we get the dancing ... No other Heavyweight in the world can dance like this … [r6] ... He’s not doing any punching … [r7] ... Solid left hook from Ali ... Good right from Lyle … [r8] ... The explosions are beginning to take place. He’s working for the win, Ali. Really opening up for the first time ... For the first time he makes Lyle look very ordinary … [r9] ... Back to the dancing … [r10] ... Lyle has been very cool about the whole thing ... Nothing from the champion … [r11] ... He’s got him with a right hand ... He comes up with a great shock punch ... Lyle doesn’t know where he is ... He’s stopped it now … Harry Carpenter, UK fight commentary
50) Joe Bugner Points15: UK Fight Commentary TV -
v Joe Bugner 30th June 1975 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia: [r1] ... Moving fast in the heat and humidity ... Right hand got over the top of Bugner’s guard ... They went off fast ... [r2] ... Here comes the shuffling and the dancing ... Bugner slipping inside some of these punches ... [r3] ... Ali talking to him now ... [r4] ... Now he really is clowning ... Ali says, You come to me ... [r5] ... Solid looking right swing from Ali to the body ... Bugner having to take some stinging left jabs in the face ... [r6] ... Ali leads his own cheering ... Ali is determined to build up a big early lead ... Ali still making most of the running ... Ali doesn’t even bother to sit ... [r7] ... Flat on his feet now ... Bugner’s covered up ... [r8] ... Ali back up on his feet again ... Whiplash right hand ... A totally different fight from any that Ali has fought recently ... [r9] ... Good punches in there from Ali ... Ali always keeping that little bit on top ... [r10] ... Neither man ever seriously in trouble ... [r11] ... Ali begins to open up with that in-built clock in his mind ... [r12] ... Bugner now sensing he’s got to do something ... [r13] ... Making this ring like a furnace ... [r14] ... The attacks are becoming a little more frequent now from Ali ... There’s blood on Ali’s face ... [r15] ... Ali has put on certainly his best performance since the Foreman fight ... He’s going to finish this in the old dancing style ... Bugner’s getting some trouble now ... Grandstand finish from Ali ... And there’s the bell. Harry Carpenter, UK fight commentary
51) Joe Frazier III ***** TKO14: Muhammad Ali - Hall of Fame: Clash of the Titans TV - Colin Hart - Henry Cooper - Mark Carlson - Teddy Atlas - Bert Randolph Sugar - Eddie Futch - Thriller in Manila TV - Reg Gutteridge - Harry Carpenter - US Fight Commentary TV -
If God ever calls me to a Holy War, I want Joe Frazier beside me. Muhammad Ali
This fight may end before the first round. Muhammad Ali, pre-fight press conference
It will be a killer and a chiller and a thriller when I get the gorilla in Manila. Muhammad Ali
He is so ugly his face should be donated to the Bureau of Wildlife. Muhammad Ali
1975: The world awaited a classic. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought three times: any one of which could be considered a classic. The first in 1971 was won by Frazier. The second was Ali’s. The third was to be the decider. Hall of Fame: Clash of the Titans
Before the final round Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch had decided he had seen enough. Meanwhile in the other corner Ali was telling his trainer Angelo Dundee that he wanted to quit. But Frazier’s trainer had already made up his mind. ibid.