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Big George Foreman was the World Heavyweight Champion,

Towering and fearsome, as strong as a stallion.

He had shattered the myth of old Smokin' Joe,

By knocking him down and out, six times as we know.

The power of his punches destroyed Kenny Norton,

And humbled the hopes of timid Joe Roman.

When George swung his punches very few could stand,

The power they carried was like the 'Big Bang'.



It was when Ali, the 'Champ' of all time,

Was finding it hard to match aging skills with rhyme.

A three-and-half years' of lay-off had robbed him of his prime,

Time had taken its toll and skills were on the decline.

The very feet that danced for 15 rounds and more,

Were unable to shuffle beyond round four.

Still, Ali retained some of his old glow,

As his destruction of Norton and Frazier would show.

The dream to regain the title kept him moving on,

Beating guys like Bugner out of his path like pawns.



At last Big George had to face him for the title,

And the Louisville Lip was right across the table.

George knew since childhood, that when Ali said something,

His words always conveyed a very clear warning.

So when Ali said that once inside the ring,

Foreman would learn the real meaning of boxing.



Don King the promoter arranged their big rumble,

That was to be fought in an African jungle.

The world thought perhaps Ali had gone crazy,

When he claimed he would regain all his lost glory.

Foreman, it was known, was deadlier than Liston,

Younger and stronger with punches packing a ton.

When Ali could not knockout Smokin' Joe or Norton,

How could he, they said, vanquish Foreman the awesome.



So most of them forecast a sad end for Ali,

They said he would be 'killed' by George like a flea.

Ali's old some said, too slow, no power in his blows

Beyond round three it was predicted George wouldn't prolong the show.

But Ali was Ali, undaunted and brave,

Insisting how he would teach Big George to behave.



So on October 30th of 1974,

The 'Rumble in the Jungle' held much in store.



As the bout started Big George charged and bombed

Trying to land his best shots but Ali remained strong.

He was putting his well-thought plan in action,

Raining right hand leads on Foreman with precision.

The annihilator of Frazier and Kenny Norton,

Was shaken when Ali hit him and commanded the situation.



Relentlessly George charged and managed to corner Ali,

Hitting him with all the power his haymakers could carry.

With Ali on the ropes and Foreman landing his bombs,

Many closed their eyes fearing the knockout gong.

Foreman kept swinging punches but Ali kept his cool,

And when the round ended he even disdained the stool.



Come on George he urged daring the champion to fight,

This was something that none expected on that night                    

With tactics unchanged he charged to end the fight in two,

Even though he did his best his wish did not come true.

Now Ali's strategy showed he was more than the dancing master.

Content on the ropes he taunted George to hit harder.



Round three was a new scene as the excited crowd roared,

Ali Bomaye, Bomaye Ali, as Foreman was getting weaker.

For the first time in years the champ was getting hit,

It was round three but Muhammad was strong and fit.

In sheer disbelief the world, and George watched,

As the Black Superman rope-a-doped and dodged.



The fourth round was but a replay of this scene,

Ali was on the way to fulfilling his old dream.

Foreman was punching him with the best he had got,

But Ali's ring wizardry was reducing it to naught.



In five Ali showed he still remained,

The king as more jabs on Foreman rained.

Not a soul who was watching the bout ever thought,

That Ali would have the whole world so distraught.



By the end of round six and then seven,

Foreman's dazed mind was floating in its heaven.

In the closing seconds of eight, Ali came out for the kill,                  

His lightning array of punches made even time stand still.

Foreman was frustrated, gasping for every breath,

His end was drawing nearer with every tired step.

Then it was that Foreman was hit with two lefts and a right,                  

He came down like a tree, crashing down with its might.

He was on the canvas and did not know what happened,

Till the referee went and told him that he had met his end.

                  

And so it was on that fateful dawn in Zaire,

That the invincible George was consumed by Ali's fire.

Joe Frazier was stunned and so was Kenny Norton,

As they saw how Ali walked with the grace of a real champion.

He erased forever doubts about his boxing prowess,

'Ali, you are the greatest', he made them all confess.