Revisiting When We Were Kings – The Fight That Defined Muhammad Ali
A framed front-page newspaper article of one of the greatest sporting spectacles of the 20th century hangs proudly in my home office, reminding me of it every morning. The photo captures Muhammad Ali landing a right hand to defeat George Foreman in the epic heavyweight title fight in Zaire, 1974—more widely known as The Rumble in the Jungle.
I could rewatch this documentary a thousand times, and like fine wine, it only gets better with age.
Director Leon Gast’s 1996 documentary film When We Were Kings tells the story of this famous David-and-Goliath battle while making sense of the political, cultural, and social context surrounding the fight—something I’ll explore further in this blog.
The Fight: Ali vs. Foreman – Underdog vs. Powerhouse
By 1974, George Foreman was an undefeated knockout machine with a fearsome reputation. Ali, at 32, was considered past his prime—largely due to his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War, which saw him out of the ring for three and a half years. His next opportunity for the WBC belt came against Joe Frazier, where he lost a unanimous decision, proving for the first time that he could be beaten. Two years later, he suffered another loss to Ken Norton, breaking his jaw in the process. However, he avenged both defeats.
With Foreman at 26 years old and holding a 40-0 record, the general consensus was that he would destroy Ali. But Ali thrived on this gloomy, doubting narrative and had other plans—ones he set in motion long before the first bell.
The documentary captures brilliantly how Ali played the long game. When Foreman sustained a cut to his eye in sparring and returned to the U.S. to recover, Ali remained in Zaire, training and acclimatising to the humid climate. During this time, he built a strong bond with the local community, solidifying himself as the people's champion. Embracing the underdog label, he used it to his advantage in press conferences and public appearances, throwing verbal jabs at the quiet, brooding Foreman. Ali knew how to sell a fight.
When fight night finally arrived, Ali’s strategy was as bold as his pre-fight trash talk. Instead of going toe-to-toe with Foreman, he leaned back onto the ropes, absorbing hundreds of body shots while conserving energy. Many couldn’t understand it—some even suspected the fight was fixed—but this tactic later became known as the "rope-a-dope."
After eight rounds of relentless swinging, Foreman was exhausted. This was Ali’s moment. With patient brilliance and ruthless precision, he unleashed a five-punch combination that sent Foreman crashing to the canvas. Pure poetry in motion.
Ali had just pulled off one of the greatest tactical upsets in sports history.
I can’t stress enough that what makes this part of the documentary so captivating is the rich, poetic analysis from boxing journalists Norman Mailer and George Plimpton. Their deep, intellectual reflections draw you into the fight, heightening the anticipation even further.
Ali: More Than a Fighter
Beyond the fight itself, what makes When We Were Kings so compelling is the way it portrays Ali as more than just an athlete. To many, he was a symbol of black empowerment, particularly after his refusal to fight in Vietnam and his unapologetic personality.
Listening to him reflect on cultural differences—contrasting what he saw as the humility and dignity of the African people with the materialism of Western society—was powerful.
Many locals ran alongside him on his training runs, chanting "Ali, bomaye!" ("Ali, kill him!"). He was their hero, their leader. By contrast, Foreman was simply an outsider. The documentary subtly frames them as protagonist versus villain—not by twisting the truth, but by presenting how people viewed them at the time.
Ali wasn’t just fighting Foreman; he was battling the perception that he was washed up, finished. That public doubt fueled his defiance. Through good humor and self-belief, he turned skepticism into motivation. This is what gave the fight its emotional weight and made the final victory so satisfying for the viewer.
What When We Were Kings Teaches About Storytelling
One of the most fascinating things about When We Were Kings is the accidental nature of its creation.
Leon Gast originally set out to document a three-day music festival happening alongside the fight. But when the bout was delayed by five weeks, and the festival wrapped up, his focus shifted to The Rumble in the Jungle. The final film places the fight at the center, with the festival serving as a rich cultural backdrop.
It took Gast over two decades to complete the documentary due to footage rights issues, financial disputes, and questions over its original intent. But the result? Pure brilliance.
A whole array of elements make this film special—from the archival fight footage and interviews with Norman Mailer and George Plimpton to the legendary performances by James Brown during the Zaire 74 music festival.
From the very first frame, the film builds anticipation and tension—from Ali landing in Zaire to the final knockout.
To me, it’s a reminder that the best sports documentaries transcend the events themselves. Sometimes, they carry a deeper significance in telling human stories. And on this occasion, no one had a better story to tell than Muhammad Ali.
A Lasting Legacy
Nearly 30 years after its release, When We Were Kings still feels as relevant as ever.
In late 2023, I attended Rumble in the Jungle Rematch, an immersive experience in London that recreated the entire landscape—from the music and press conferences to the sparring sessions and the fight itself. It transported me straight into 1974’s Zaire.
I believe they are bringing this amazing event back so check out the link below and join the waiting list.
www.rumbleinthejunglerematch.com
I admire Spike Lee’s closing thoughts on When We Were Kings—he’s right when he says that kids growing up today need to know about the legacy that is Muhammad Ali. His impact extends far beyond boxing; his legacy as a cultural and political icon remains unmatched. Ali stood for something greater than himself, and his story should be passed down to every new generation. That’s what makes this documentary so important—it ensures that Ali’s voice, his defiance, and his brilliance continue to inspire.
You can watch the documentary in full at www.nowtv.com
