Lennox Lewis recalls his Rumble in the Jungle inspiration

Heavyweight great Lennox Lewis was so inspired by the Rumble in the Jungle, he went about his own way trying to emulate it.

Muhammad Ali famously toppled the previously indestructible George Foreman in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Africa, 50 years ago today.

In April 2001, Lewis travelled to South Africa to defend his title against Hasim Rahman, but the American was in the underdog role and stopped Lewis with a crashing right hand in five rounds.

Lewis avenged the loss with an even more emphatic right hand seven months later in Las Vegas. Still, Ali-Foreman has remained a source of inspiration for the former champion.

“Absolutely, let me tell you why it’s so meaningful to me,” Lewis said. “Because I had a fight in Africa as well, and in my career, I said, ‘Yeah, Muhammad Ali went and had a fight in Africa,’ so when I had the opportunity, I took it. It didn’t work out as well for me as it did for Muhammad Ali, but the rematch definitely worked out for me.”

Lewis also said that the bout in Zaire would be one of the fights that he would have always liked to have been ringside for. Then, just a nine-year-old living in Canada having moved from London, Lewis had not yet thrown a punch in anger, but he would learn about what happened in Zaire in time.

“Oh yeah, even hearing all the stories about ‘Ali Bom-aye’, and them calling that out to him when he got into the country, and how Africans deal with superstars, they’re happy, they’re excited. They’re full of joy.”

Ahead of a UK speaking tour that starts this week, Lennox talked about the night Muhammad Ali – whom Lewis was a pallbearer for at Ali’s funeral – and Foreman shared history in Kinshasa. Lewis spent time with both fighters in the ensuing years.

“Absolutely, Muhammad Ali is my hero, George Foreman is a hero of mine,” Lewis added. “Both guys, I learned different things off. Obviously Muhammad Ali’s movement – float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, hit and don’t get hit. George Foreman helped me with the hands [positioning] and defense and throwing some punches. And he used to commentate on my fights [for HBO], and I used to listen to him all the time. This is why when you listen to people commentate and talk about you, you can learn things.”

Lewis’ tour takes in Wolverhampton, Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Maidstone, Sheffield, Great Yarmouth and Blackpool and tickets can be purchased at goldstarpromotions.co.uk/events.