After it’s inaugural year of covering boxing, HBO had only one fight on the calendar in 1974. It was the ‘Rumble in Jungle’ on October 30, 1974 between Muhammad Ali and champ George Foreman. Ali shocked the world and regained his title by knocking out the favored Foreman in the 8th round in Zaire, South Africa, and HBO was there to cover it.
Muhammad Ali was the face of boxing in the 1970’s and his next major fight was the ‘Thrilla in Manilla’ on October 1, 1975. It would be the third and final fight in the trilogy between Ali and Joe Frazier. The brutal slugfest ended with Frazier unable to answer the bell for the 15th and final round, and would be the last great performance of both fighter’s careers.
With HBO gaining it’s legs and Ali’s career fading, new prospects would be necessary to fill their cards. There was a few new faces about to do just that.
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