Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali (Part 6)
Finally, when match time came, it was going to be Ali’s technical game plan and his natural speed against Foreman’s natural power and hard hitting abilities. The fight began with the dynamite Ali being the aggressor, landing some excellent punches on the
champion in the first round. The aggressive attitude of the challenger confused the defending champion to a certain degree.
Foreman initiated round two by hitting Ali with some heavy body shots and causing him to rethink his plans. The fired up foreman had plans of his own.
He had studied Muhammad and his amazing movement in the ring. As a result, Foreman made sure he left barely any space for the cat like Ali to move around and avoid the power blows from Ali that came his way.
The booming Ali quickly and smartly diverted the match into a completely different direction. His strategy was continuously lying on the ropes with foreman attempting to throw huge blows at him, failing more often than not in connecting efficiently. The
lion was not only about speed and agility. He was a true strategist and planner.
Wherever he got the chance, Ali would suddenly jab the Champ. Slowly but surely, his jabs and odd hooks began to effect Big Georges face. The swelling was becoming evident. If ever both the fighters got clinched up together, the intelligent challenger would
put all his weight on Foreman continuously tiring him through various tactics.
When they would get out of the clinch, Ali would instinctively return to the ropes, blocking everything coming his way and also taunting the champion. Ali was using psychological techniques along with wearing George out.
Time after time, he would say, "They told me you could punch, George!” provoking the champion to hit harder. Foreman after that began using the last bit of raw energy he had left by attempting to hit the wonder boy as hard as he could.
The wondrous Muhammad began the fourth round by completely shocking and amazing the big man with unbelievable combinations. He connected almost every time. He continued to do so till the fifth round. By this time, the crowd was roaring in excitement. More
than 65,000 people were in the arena. It was almost impossible to hear anything.
The electric atmosphere further motivated the challenger. It was becoming clearer that the giant champion was hurt and tired. His face was swollen badly and his attack almost ineffective against the fresh and thunderous moves of Ali. Muhammad was waiting
for that perfect knockout opportunity. During which he did land many severe blows to the defending champion.
It was in the eighth round that Ali became ruthless, throwing combination after combination, where as foreman was so exhausted that he could barely execute a perfect jab. It was during these moments that the Assassin Ali found his golden opening to terminate
his opponent.
Big George in his last attempt to do some damage began throwing hooks, leaving his face completely unprotected. In that moment, the greatest Ali banged foreman’s face with a straight powerful right strike right on the nose!
The strike took the life out of the defending champions’ legs, resulting in him dropping flat on the canvas with a few seconds of silence throughout the arena. George was a fighter and did not want to give up, even though he had an empty gas tank.
So he beat the count, but once the referee judged his condition, he instantly stopped the fight. Muhammad Ali had defied all the odds and once again fought his way through a war to become the Heavyweight Champion once again at the age of 32.
This bout showcased the versatility that Ali possessed. He had to change his entire natural style to end as the victor. The rope technique became famous after this rumble. He had beaten the champion purely using his intelligent mind and his god gifted boxing
brain.
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