Ali vs. Tyson: Ali Profile 3

And so, with a powerful 7-punch combination, Ali recaptured the Undisputed Heavyweight title of the World. It was 4:00AM when the fight started in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). 8 rounds later, Foreman was floored for the first time in his career, and he simply could not get up in time. With this incredible win, Ali cemented his legacy as the one of the greatest boxers of all time, and as a beacon of light for those who found themselves in the darkest of places. He got past every trial and tribulation that was hurled at him and walked away okay. But as mush as we love the mushy stuff here at Athletes and Eras, it's time to talk history and strategy.

Ali knew that he would not be able to use his usual tactic of dancing around in the smoldering heat in Zaire. Instead, he hit Foreman with a right-hand lead numerous times, then retreated to the ropes and let Foreman punch and punch and punch. Eventually, Foreman wore himself out and was exhausted by the eighth round, allowing Ali to capitalize and get the knockout. This tactic, labeled the "Rope-a-Dope," would prove to be a good strategy against Foreman and other punchers of his era.

Ali would continue to fight until 1981, losing and winning his title a third time in 1978. This victory made him the first three-time heavyweight champion in history. Ali defeated every top fighter of his time, including George Foreman, Joe Frazier (2/3), Ken Norton (2/3), Jerry Quarry (2x), George Chuvalo (2x), Earnie Shavers (considered to be the hardest puncher in all of boxing history) the list keeps going and going and going. As George Chuvalo has said: "There are just too many great fights to remember. But we all know at one point, he really was the Greatest."

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Ali vs. Tyson: Ali Profile 2

It's round 6 of Muhammad Ali (or Cassius Clay, as he was still known) vs. Sonny Liston, the awesome, powerful athlete who knocked out the previous champion in the first round. Twice. Liston will surely be here on Athletes and Eras soon enough, but not today. Today, we're talking about how Ali used his spectacular footwork and hand speed to dismantle the highly-touted champion and core the win by technical knockout in the 7th round. That's right, ladies and gentlemen: Ali made Liston quit.

As powerful as Liston was, his slow movements made it easy for Ali to outmaneuver him and avoid his best punches. And even when Liston did land good shots, Ali's impeccable chin allowed him to absorb monstrous blows from the hardest of punchers and shake it off. After winning this fight, Ali would run to the edge of the ring and yell "I shook up the world!" And he was absolutely right. As a 7-1 underdog, no one thought the young man could pull it off. But he did. And this was just the beginning.

"I ain't got no quarrel with the Viet Cong... Ain't no Viet Cong ever called me [N-word]." With this one statement, Ali marred the world into protest against the Vietnam War. He refused to step forward when he was drafted to fight in the Army. "Whatever the punishment, whatever the persecution is for standing up for my... beliefs, even if it means facing machine gun fire I will face it that day... I'm ready to die."

As a result of this action Ali was stripped of his titles and had his boxing license suspended for nearly four years. Those years are a champion's prime, and Ali was forced to miss them. But he came back in 1970 ith a vengeance, defeating Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. This led to his title fight with the highly-respected and dangerous "Smokin'" Joe Frazier. Both fighters were undefeated going into the fight. They called it the "Fight of the Century..."

This would be Ali's first defeat as a professional boxer. The fight went the full 15 rounds, with both fighters taking severe punishment. But Ali would not be stopped so easily. He would mount another comeback, winning 10 more fights before losing to Ken Norton, another legendary fighter. Was Ali's time up? No way! Ali would be given yet another title shot, this time against the one of the most feared punchers of Boxing's Golden Age... George Foreman.

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