Foreman, the world heavyweight champion, was pitted against the ageing Ali, who was looking to become the second fighter, after Floyd Patterson, to recover the world heavyweight crown.

The boxers spent much of the summer training in the African country, to adapt to the warm conditions.

Dictator Mobutu Sese Seko's government supplied most of the $10 million purse Don King, then at the beginning of his promoting career, needed to make sure Ali and Foreman fought each other.

With King and Ali involved, the match was never going to be short of hype. Mobutu ensured his nation was in a state of frenzy, distributing posters across this vast country -- Africa's third-largest -- and filling State media with coverage.

The event was also billed as a major festival of black Americans returning to their roots. Musicians like James Brown and B B King played concerts along with African artistes in the stadium as part of the build-up to the fight.

Not even an injury to Foreman a few days before the original scheduled date of September 25, forcing a postponement to October 30, could spoil the atmosphere.

The Rumble In The Jungle was like a stop on the international jet-set circuit rather than a largely forgotten Third World capital. US President Richard M Nixon, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and soccer superstar Pele all visited the city.

Foreman was listed the 8 to 1 favourite by most bookies. But Ali knocked out the supposedly invincible Foreman in the eighth round.

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