George Foreman: I Was Drugged in Loss to Muhammad Ali
Posted May 21st 2007 5:51PM by Michael David Smith
Does George Foreman realize what a stunning claim he's making in his new autobiography? His loss to Muhammad Ali in 1974 (a fight known as the Rumble in the Jungle) is one of the most significant sports moments of the 20th Century. And now he says he lost because he was drugged:
That's what the ex-heavyweight champ suggests in his new memoir, "God in My Corner," revealing his trainer gave him a weird-tasting cup of water just before the bout. "I almost spit it out . . . Man, I know this water has medicine in it," Foreman said to his trainer, who denied it was spiked. "I climbed into the ring with that medicinal taste still lingering in my mouth . . . After the third round, I was as tired as if I had fought 15 rounds."
Think about this for a second. To believe Foreman is telling the truth, you'd have to believe that he knew he was sabotaged at the time, knew the Rumble in the Jungle was rigged, and waited until his 2007 autobiography to reveal all.
2007-05-21 17:55:19 · 18 answers · asked by marnefirstinfantry 5 in Sports ➔ Boxing
He might have been tired by the third round because he had thrown a zillion punches at that point. You are right, it is weird that he would wait 35 years to make that suggestion.
2007-05-21 18:01:21 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
When Muhammad Ali Fought George Foreman he was definitely the underdog some were saying that Ali will be Lucky to get out of this fight alive, after the fight the excuses for Foreman started to immediately come out some said that Ali purposely had the ropes made loose so he could use them -'rope a dope' others say that Muhammad just winged it and upon seeing Foreman completely exhausted and worn out capitalized on the situation in the 8th round-either way anyone looks at it 'Big' George was the heavy favorite to keep his then undefeated record along with the heavyweight championship the night they fought.....
2016-05-19 07:09:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I were you, I would go out and rent "When we where kings". It is the best sports documentary I have ever seen.
I just think big old George is trying to sell some books, if what you say is correct. But I have not heard anything to confirm it.
Kazone, although I agree with you, Foreman did fight one more fight before retiring the first time. The fight was in Puerto Rico, don't remember against who, and Foreman lost.
There is an urban legend here in Puerto Rico that says that after the fight, Foreman, walking on the Condado strip, hit a light post made of wood so hard that it cracked it.
2007-05-22 06:47:46 · answer #3 · answered by ranarenepr 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Horrible when you have everything, except that lost glory. I think Foreman was a great champ, but Ali was right for the game, at a time in need.
Ali was, and is, and always will be the best champ ever! Foreman with a win or with the loss he suffered, would and is only second to Ali, always.
2007-05-21 18:06:02 · answer #4 · answered by VicoC 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Foreman never had a fight go much further than the 2nd round, so he expected the same in the Ali fight and didn't train very hard. He had no stamina. He made the same mistake many years later when he fought Holyfield and lost.
2007-05-24 02:33:04 · answer #5 · answered by devil6string 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
lets tell the truth...the rumble in the jungle was originally schedule for september 30, 1974, but due to the cut that foreman received during sparring the fight was reset for october 30, 1974 during that time which foreman did not train for the fight because he beleived he was cursed by a witch doctor and wanted to leave zaire, meanwhile ali took advantage of the extension and continued training, which explains why foreman was out of shape and punched himself out in the 8th and was ripe for the knockout.
2007-05-26 05:37:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's bull, man! George simply punched himself out in that fight, and the ever smart Ali took him out. In that documentary "Champions Forever", Foreman was asked about the loose ropes which Ali used to his advantage in his "rope-a-dope" strategy and George shrugged it off saying that he just lost the fight and the title and has no excuses for it. That autobiography is kinda interesting. Maybe George just wants to give it some hype so he's cooking up things.
2007-05-21 21:35:43 · answer #7 · answered by bundini 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
This accuasation was made back then. George was interviewed and did suggest he was drugged. He is not just bringing this to light now.
However, in spite of his allegation he had no proof. He was in so much disbelief and devastation that he retired immediately after that.
I saw the fight back then, Ali just outsmarted him. Big George was not used to going 3 rounds much less 8 plus rounds. George was knocking out everybody in 3 or less, Frazier, Norton, etc.
Thats why Ali was the Greatest, he would find his challengers weakness and expose that.
2007-05-22 05:45:31 · answer #8 · answered by KAZONE 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Foreman had more excuses for that loss than the NBA has playoff games. He looked like the same old GF to me: wild swings and totally gassed-out by the mid rounds. Did his behavior or fighting look unusual to you? It didn't to me.
2007-05-21 19:00:29 · answer #9 · answered by douglas c 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Why only now George? You got your share of the loot and gave the glory away to Muhammad Ali. We knew along that the fight was darn rigged cause you're a bad actor than Ali. Can we say that it's your turn now to make your autobiography look good?
2007-05-21 22:22:28 · answer #10 · answered by ik t 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋