1974: Rumble in the Jungle

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• Background Info
• Vocabulary

• On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali beat the odds to regain the title of the world heavyweight boxing champion. The fight against the younger, bigger, defending champion, George Foreman, was held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), and nicknamed the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Today, the Rumble in the Jungle is considered by many historians to be the greatest sporting event of the 20th century.

   

  Although the fight took place in Africa, it was a uniquely American event. Ali and Foreman shared many characteristics, and became very good friends. Both were gold medalists—Ali won the light heavyweight title at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy, and Foreman won the heavyweight title at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. Both athletes were also both born and raised in the American South—Ali in Louisville, Kentucky, and Foreman in Houston, Texas. 

   

  The third American who made the Rumble in the Jungle possible was promoter Don King. King was an outspoken showman who worked tirelessly to produce a profitable and entertaining event. Ali and Foreman both demanded $5 million for the fight, for instance. King’s organization did not have that money, so he negotiated with international businessmen and sporting figures to secure funding. Mobutu Sese-Seko had been president of Zaire since its founding just three years earlier, and was eager to encourage tourists to visit the new country. He invested in the Rumble in the Jungle and provided training facilities and a venue for the fight. While Ali and Foreman spent weeks adjusting to the tropical climate, King organized an all-star concert series with American and African musicians. James Brown, Celia Cruz, and Miriam Makeba were some of the artists to participate in the event, “Zaire 74.” King arranged for the Rumble in the Jungle to start after 4 a.m. in Kinshasa—so the fight could be broadcast during prime time in the United States.

   

  The Rumble in the Jungle helped cement Ali’s reputation as “The Greatest” boxer in the history of the sport. Foreman enjoyed a phenomenal boxing career, including several returns to the heavyweight title. King went on to promote other fights—notably the “Thrilla in Manila,” between Ali and Joe Frazier, the following year.

• Term	Part of Speech	Definition	Encyclopedic Entry
  adjust	Verb	to change or modify something to fit with something else.
  arrange	Verb	to prepare or put in order.
  athlete	Noun	person who participates or competes in sporting events.
  boxing	Noun	sport of fighting with closed fists.
  broadcast	Verb	to transmit signals, especially for radio or television media.
  cement	Verb	to secure as solid.
  characteristic	Noun	physical, cultural, or psychological feature of an organism, place, or object.
  climate	Noun	all weather conditions for a given location over a period of time.	Encyclopedic Entry: climate
  consider	Verb	to think about.
  eager	Adjective	enthusiastic.
  encourage	Verb	to inspire or support a person or idea.
  funding	Noun	money or finances.
  international	Adjective	having to do with more than one country.
  invest	Verb	to contribute time or money.
  jungle	Noun	tropical ecosystem filled with trees and underbrush.
  negotiate	Verb	to discuss with others of different viewpoints in order to reach an agreement, contract, or treaty.
  Olympics	Noun	international sports competition divided into summer and winter games held every four years.
  organize	Verb	to coordinate and give structure to.
  outspoken	Adjective	bold and candid speech or presentation.
  participate	Verb	to take part in an activity.
  phenomenal	Adjective	very impressive.
  prime time	Noun	between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., when television audiences are usually largest.
  profitable	Adjective	able to make money.
  promoter	Noun	person or organization that organizes and provides financial support for an event.
  reputation	Noun	estimation or value in which a person or thing is held.
  secure	Verb	to guarantee, or make safe and certain.
  South	Noun	loosely defined geographic region largely composed of states that supported or were sympathetic to the Confederate States of America (Confederacy) during the U.S. Civil War.
  tourist	Noun	person who travels for pleasure.
  train	Verb	to gain skill through discipline and practice.
  tropical	Adjective	existing in the tropics, the latitudes between the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south.
  venue	Noun	location of an event.