Muhammad Ali Regains His Title in Kinshasa

In 1967, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his heavyweight title and barred from professional boxing for three and a half years after refusing induction into the United States military. Following his return to the ring in 1970, Ali sought to reclaim undisputed supremacy in the division, but he suffered a decision loss to Joe Frazier in 1971. In the meantime, George Foreman, who had captured Olympic gold in 1968, advanced rapidly through the ranks. Foreman seized the championship by knocking Frazier down six times in two rounds and later defended his belt by halting Ken Norton within two rounds, establishing a reputation as an intimidating and exceptionally heavy puncher.

Promoter Don King secured agreements from both boxers by promising each man a five-million-dollar purse. Lacking the necessary funds and the backing to stage such a contest in the United States, King sought foreign support. Fred Weymar, an American advisor to President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, persuaded the head of state that hosting the match would bring valuable publicity to the government. Mobutu agreed to stage the bout in Kinshasa, while a consortium that included the British Hemdale Film Corporation, Video Techniques of New York, and Panamanian firm Risnelia Investment helped assemble the financial and promotional apparatus.