Rumble in The Jungle: 40th Anniversary

MUHAMMED ALI AND ALI MUHAMMED

Part 1:

Last night I watched Ali,1 a 2006 biographical drama starring Will Smith as the legendary boxer and American icon Muhammad Ali. The film begins when Ali was known as Cassius Clay, winner of an Olympic gold medal. Cassius Clay grew-up in America`s South, where segregation was the norm and where blacks were still occasionally lynched by white racists. No wonder, then, that the young boxing champ was attracted to the radical Nation of Islam, and, for a while, became a close friend of the controversial Malcolm X.

When Clay, now re-named Muhammad Ali(1942- ), took a stand against the Vietnam War, and refused to be drafted into that conflict, his troubles really began. The Establishment set about stripping him of his championship and his dignity.

Part 1.1:

This outspoken boxer presented a new and bold image for African Americans at the time, brimming with confidence and eloquence. He quickly captured the heavyweight title, and charmed sports fans with his charismatic personality, but his friendship with political leader Malcolm X, and association with the controversial Temple of Islam, began to sway opinion against him.

Director Michael Mann portrayed the many aspects of Ali's larger-than-life existence: his romantic complications, his religious dedication and political beliefs all pulling the gifted athlete in different directions. The star-studded cast included: Jon Voight as Howard Cosell and Jamie Foxx as Drew 'Bundini' Brown, Ali's longtime corner man.1 I leave it to readers with the interest to find out more about this film, and watch it, if they have not done so already.

Part 2:

Back in the 1950s, during the years 1955 to 1959, I began to hear more and more about Alí Muḥammad Shírází(1819-1850). He was the founder of Babism, and one of three central figures of the Baha'i Faith. He was a merchant from Shiraz Persia who, at the age of twenty-four, on May 23, 1844, symbolically claimed to be the promised Qa'in or Mahdi. After his declaration he took the title of Báb, meaning "Gate".

He composed hundreds of letters and books, often termed tablets, in which he stated his messianic claims and defined his teachings. These teachings constituted a new sharí'ah or religious law. His movement eventually acquired tens of thousands of supporters, was opposed by Iran's Shi'a clergy, and was suppressed by the Iranian government, leading to the persecution and killing of thousands of his followers, called Bábís. In 1850, at the age of thirty, the Báb was shot by a firing squad in Tabriz.2-Ron Price with thanks to 1SBS TV, 13 December 2013; and 2Wikipedia.

Part 3:

The Rumble in the Jungle was an historic boxing event in 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). Held at the 20th of May Stadium on the night of October 30, 1974 (4:00 am), it pitted the undefeated world heavyweight champion George Foreman against challenger Muhammad Ali, a former heavyweight champion. Ali won by knockout, putting Foreman down just before the end of the eighth round. It has been called "arguably the greatest sporting event of the 20th. This week is the celebration of the 40th anniversary of that event.

In October 1974 I was a tutor in education studies at what is now the University of Tasmania. My time was occupied with 60 hours a week of those responsibilities, with the demands of a wife-to-be and her two daughters then 8 and 3 years old, and tasks in the Tasmanian Baha'i community, then 50 years old, 1923 to 1974.

Part 4:

Charisma was writ-large across
the personalities of these 2 men.
I've known about the Bab for 60
years, & Muhammed Ali for 50.

Because I was moved by the story
of these men, I have written these
words, a contrasting summary of
their lives, one of which found its
home in Sunni Islam....and one of
which was born in Shi'ah Islam, in
that Ithna-Ashariyyih sect of that
Shaykhi school which became, by
degrees, a world religion, the 2nd
most-widespread religion on Earth.1

1 According to the Encyclopedia Britannica

Ron Price
15/12/'13 to 26/10/'14.

I'm surprised that there wasn't something to commemorate this event....

Great commemoration about the Rumble in Kinshasa. I liked it! But Ron, are you slyly using a boxing topic to disseminate information about your religion? I understood the part about the boxer, and this is indeed the Boxing Talk forum. I liked your depiction of Cassius Clay. Excellent observations. He was a real boost for Black Americans. But what on EARTH does Baha'i have to do with Cassius Clay or the Boxing Talk forum? There is no connection between Baha'i and Cassius Clay or between Rocky Marciano or bahaillulah, etc. I mean you really have TO REACH to find some connection there that other forum members can understand or relate to. But Ron it is an interesting post. Hey Ron, do you guys have Rewarewa Honey in Tasmania? i heard its gourmet quality and the best.

Ali and Foreman rule, Baha'i stinks.

Another great post Ron. Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ykdadamaja

I'm surprised that there wasn't something to commemorate this event....

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I fear sadly because Ali is seemingly struggling, the press are 'holding fire'...

The worst thing that could have ever happened to Boxing.

It created a 'Circus Atmosphere' ............ again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom

The worst thing that could have ever happened to Boxing.

It created a 'Circus Atmosphere' ............ again.

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You are the only clown in the circus.

Good post Ron although I disagree with you tying the fight with Bahia. I see it more in the light of Catholicism with a smidgen of Judaism and and light splattering of Janism. I just don't see the link with bahiaism but I will watch the fight again to make sure.

It is actually one of my favourite fights to watch. Unfortunately, I think it is one of the main attributes that led to Ali's problems today. Thanks again, I can see your posts are enlightening Brock to Bahia which I think will benefit him.

Nope, just watched it again and no link to Bahai. With all do respect I was nominated Spiritual leader of Saddo in another thread and Saddo himself supports my claim. Being Spiritual leader of course my say is final.

Back on topic, the fight was one of the greatest displays of athleticism and toughness to ever grace sports, Amen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by walrus

Nope, just watched it again and no link to Bahai. With all do respect I was nominated Spiritual leader of Saddo in another thread and Saddo himself supports my claim. Being Spiritual leader of course my say is final.

Back on topic, the fight was one of the greatest displays of athleticism and toughness to ever grace sports, Amen.

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ffight is frightening to me to this day. Ali is visibly terrified in the opening round---prolly half-expecting to get his skull bludgeoned in as Frazier and Norton had just experienced. GF is the most frightening fighter I ever saw.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom

The worst thing that could have ever happened to Boxing.

It created a 'Circus Atmosphere' ............ again.

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You are the only clown in the circus.

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You are wrong, clowns can be funny...

Oh wait I get it, they also tend to be the tragic figure in the circus! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

Quote:

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Originally Posted by walrus

Nope, just watched it again and no link to Bahai. With all do respect I was nominated Spiritual leader of Saddo in another thread and Saddo himself supports my claim. Being Spiritual leader of course my say is final.

Back on topic, the fight was one of the greatest displays of athleticism and toughness to ever grace sports, Amen.

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ffight is frightening to me to this day. Ali is visibly terrified in the opening round---prolly half-expecting to get his skull bludgeoned in as Frazier and Norton had just experienced. GF is the most frightening fighter I ever saw.

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Agreed if you watch the documentary showing Foreman working the heavybag it looks like it needed to be replaced after he hit it twice. I think he himself was in awe that Ali took so many of his punches. I've seen interviews with Foreman that he was afraid he was going to kill Ali after a few rounds.Frazier used to take credit for putting Ali in his terrible state but I truly believe it was Foreman he ruined him. Foreman is my favourite fighter, as a matter of a fact it was his comeback that made me a boxing fan. In my eyes he is one of the greatest fighters ever.

George Foreman

Just didn't get acclimated to the climate in Zaire.

His body did not agree with the 'slow-heavy air' of the Congo area.

It was the 'humidity' that did George in. And by the end of Round 2,
his lungs were burning.

Muhammad, on the other hand, was a resting sort of guy in the early
going. He did not burn up any energy, as he did little.

Was Muhammad 'smart', or was George just plain 'foolish' in this bout.

I believe, it was just 'Dumb Luck' on Muhammad's part.

brings a tear to my eye this, im a nostalgic fella and time is moving so fast

im clinging on to my prime with both hands and living my dreams through my children

I still think the 'Little Dutchman' Rudi Lubbers had a better fight plan than 'Big George'.

That's Is A Fact..........

I thank all those who have taken part in this "Rumble in The Jungle: 40th Anniversary" thread. On the April 30, 2011 edition of ABC's Winners Bracket, the Rumble in the Jungle was named the greatest moment in the history of ABC's Wide World of Sports.

I am a poet and publisher. Words are my life and I was simply playing with the name Ali Muḥammad and changing it around for Cassius Clay. Bahá'ís claim that the Báb was also the spiritual return of Elijah and John the Baptist, that he was the saoshyant referred to in the Zoroastrian scriptures. Saoshyant is a figure of Zoroastrian eschatology who brings about the final renovation of the world. The Bab was the forerunner of their own religion. Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, was a follower of the Báb and claimed to be the fulfillment of his promise that God would send another messenger.

My fellow members of SaddoBoxing.com need not worry about any hidden proselytizing agenda I might have. I've been interested and involved in boxing as long as I have in the Baha'i Faith--some 60 years. Like anyone else at this site I have interests other than boxing and these other interests come in to my writing as naturally as breathing. I have 100s of interests about which I write at my website and readers can access them, FYI, at: Ron Price - Pioneering Over Five Epochs ....my annual letters to family and friends are also available to all those 'friends' I have acquired at this site over the years.-Ron Price, George Town, Tasmania(not named after either George Foreman or George Chuvalo)

Both Brock and I are avid readers of your website. I don't think Bahai can hold a candle to Christ but I believe we can all learn something from all faiths if we keep an open mind.