Encyclopedia Stevania

Some of you are apparently unfamiliar with “rope-a-dope.”

Back in ’74, Mohammed Ali fought George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire. Ali was the underdog — too old, too slow, too soft, to beat the young, brutal world champ. Most of the fight, Ali looked bad. He was up against the ropes, just fending off Foreman’s punches. For round after round, Ali just stood there and took the beating.

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By the ninth round (I think) Foreman was punched out. He’d thrown so many blows — to little apparent effect — that he was just plain tired. And Ali came back swinging. Dropped Foreman to the mat and won on a disputed count.

That is the rope-a-dope.

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