The Rumble in the Jungle: Revealing Greatness

The other night I was watching a documentary on that famous boxing match called The Rumble in the Jungle. The fight was between Muhammad Ali (Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee) and George Foreman.

The fight was held in Kinshasa, Zaire back in 1974. This fight was crucial to Muhammad Ali who was at a career low-point after having lost his last two big fights. He now faced George Foreman, the unstoppable power-punching champion who was bent on beating Ali.

Everyone believed that there was no way Ali could beat Foreman. Foreman was a power puncher and Ali was a 'dancer'. During practice Foreman would hit the punching bag so hard he would leave a dent when he was done.

Despite losing his last two fights and knowing the power of Foreman, Ali continued to tell the media how he was going to 'whup' Foreman and make him look bad. Foremen ignored the taunts confident that he could beat Ali. During his training Foreman practiced 'cutting off the ring' so Ali wouldn't be able to dance away from his powerful punches.

Ali in the meantime continued to practice his 'dancing' and didn't let up the verbal assaults and insults on Foreman. He was clearly asking for beating!

On fight night, both men went at it. Foreman did everything to corner off Ali so he wouldn't dance, forcing him up against the ropes and then unloading massive punches to the body and head. Ali was clearly taking a beating on the ropes. Yet, he continued to taunt Foreman in the ring. Every time they were tied up, you could see Ali trash talking Foreman. Everyone feared Ali's rounds were numbered and that it was a matter of time before he would go down.

Then something happened. Foreman was getting tired. By the 5th round he had punched himself out. By the 8th round he was in trouble. Out of somewhere deep inside of Ali came a barrage of punches off the ropes that pushed Foreman to the center of the ring. And with a few more punches, Ali watched as the titan known as Foreman hit the canvas floor. Ten counts later, Muhammad Ali was the champion. David had beaten Goliath.

Ali's strategy, wasn't to dance as he had led on, but it was to let Foreman tire himself out since he knew he couldn't go toe-to-toe, punch-for-punch with Foreman. His now famous Rope-a-Dope strategy worked. Ali was written into history as "The Greatest" but for George Foreman, he would go into the deepest depression of his life for the next two years.

It's easy to admire a champion like Ali because there is no denying his greatness in the sport. We as a nation admire strength and skill. We like winners. But when I look at George Foreman the Entrepreneur today, I have a deeper admiration. For here is a man who suffered one of greatest defeats in sport's history in front of the world and yet was able to redefine himself.

Foreman has emerged as a true human champion having amassed the courage and strength within him to become a successful businessman and humanitarian. They say adversity reveals the true character of a man. Well Foreman has been revealed! And he has revealed that defeat isn't final or fatal; that we can all make a comeback in our own way. He has revealed that success is redefinable. He has revealed to us that greatness isn't what happens inside the ring when the whole world is watching, but what happens outside the ring when no one cares any longer.

Remember, Success Happens for a Reason

p.s., Foreman recaptured his title on Nov. 5, 1994 at age 45 with a 10-round KO of WBA/IBF champ Michael Moorer, becoming the oldest man to win heavyweight crown. That's character !

Victor Gonzalez, top Hispanic motivational speaker and author of "The LOGIC of Success". For more info go to: www.thelogicofsuccess.com or by email victor@thelogicofsuccess.com

---

Conspiracy of Silence

Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 12,... Read More

The Shoemaker and the Brat

At seventeen years old, I was a brat. A mixture... Read More

Lance Armstrong an Inspiration

Lance Armstrong has already proven he is the greatest athlete... Read More

No More Frustration: The Thorns of Opportunity - Part I

The Thorns of Opportunity...What are you trying so hard to... Read More

Numbers

Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 19,... Read More

The Right Approach

Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 9,... Read More

The Art of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a critical element in becoming self actualized and... Read More

A Rush Home to Rapture

Riding a rush, being juiced, flying high-this is the feeling... Read More

7 Perks to Living a Life on Purpose

1. We all have a purpose in this life time.The... Read More

Teachers Pet

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 20,... Read More

Inspirations: Even More Things Ive Noticed Along the Way So Far

Some people live in and talk about the past so... Read More

Once in a Lifetime

A subscriber recently wrote to me and asked me to... Read More

Entrepreneur and Mom

When I was 12 years old, I had surgery with... Read More

How to Put the Sizzle Back in Your Relationship with These Seven Goal Setting Tools

Goal Setting and Relationships?That is not as weird as it... Read More

Everyone Has Been Hurt... Part 4

Continued...After that I stayed with him still and when he... Read More

Need for a Belief System: A System of Organization for Your Experiences!

I've spoken with many people who, over time, have felt... Read More

Ask the Angels - Get Specific !

There are Angels for everything and they are just waiting... Read More

Head First

I stepped up to the edge and looked down. I... Read More

Hitler and the Tsunami

In Catholic school the nuns used to tell us that... Read More

A Little Blessing Changes Everything

"We're on a one-game winning streak!" That's what freshman Dawan... Read More

Why Self Esteem Matters

A number of years ago I worked for one of... Read More

Parental Consent

Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 11,... Read More

Big-Wave Mindfulness: Surfing For A Connection

Surfing is mindfulness in action. Riding the biggest waves is... Read More

The Bouncer (Turning Defeat into Victory)

I'm a pretty competitive guy, though I try to keep... Read More

Small Wonder

Wonder:~~To think or speculate curiously~~To be filled with admiration, amazement... Read More

Living on Purpose: One Rock at a Time

I just got back from Colorado where I spent a... Read More

Tomorrow May be Too Late

A high school senior, looking forward to going to college,... Read More

20 Ways To Improve Your Life

People often ask me how they can improve their lives.I... Read More

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Whoever coined this phrase is a genius. Life finds ways... Read More

Generosity Is The Seed Of Wealth

Generosity, which includes the free, no strings-attached sharing of resources,... Read More

Are You Afraid of Change?

Change, no matter how you cut it, can certainly be... Read More

Who Are The Underminers?

How many of you had the experience growing up of... Read More

Inspiration: Some Things Ive Noticed Along the Way So Far

Let's file this one under the heading of random musings... Read More