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Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Muhammad Ali would still tease George Foreman about Rumble in the Jungle 40 years on after they became best friends
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MUHAMMAD ALI would still tease George Foreman about their Rumble in the Jungle 40 years on - after the pair became inseparable. Ali famously defeated Foreman in Zaire - now the Democratic Republic of the Congo - in 1974 with over ONE BILLION viewers watching worldwide. 5 Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in their 1974 Rumble in The Jungle Credit: BBC 5 The two became close friends in later years Credit: Getty And he did so using his famous rope-a-dope tactic - allowing Foreman to punch himself out before winning in round eight. The build-up was bitter and the rivalry carried on post-fight to lead to what was an expected rematch. But after Foreman claimed to have died in his dressing room after losing to Jimmy Young in 1976 - he found God and retired. It also paved the way for Foreman to form a brotherhood with Ali - up until the boxing great's death in 2016. READ MORE IN boxing MIKE DROP I'm related to the greatest boxer ever but changed my name to make my own way Ali's grandson, MMA star Biaggio, told SunSport: "My grandpa and George, they were very, very close. They spoke all the time. "The only memory I have with George myself was from my grandfather's 70th birthday party. "We met George there, I was 12 years old and even at 12 years old, I knew who George Foreman was. "I had seen the fight with him and Poppy and I was like, 'Oh, George Foreman, nice to meet you.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "He was such a nice guy, like super humble, down to earth and of just a very successful businessman at that point too. "So, really, that's like the only memory I have from George, but I do know that him and my grandfather, they were really close." Muhammad Ali's grandson Nico tried to hide his famous surname before Mike Tyson blew his cover Ali retired in 1981 after 61 fights and three heavyweight title reigns - but he was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease three years later. Although that did not stop the quick-witted sports great from throwing verbal jabs to his rival-turned-friend Foreman. Biaggio, 26, revealed: "Poppy was a jokester, man. Like he would always joke about certain things. "It's crazy when I would visit him in Arizona and he'd be sitting on his like reclining chair, I would shake his hand and in my head, I'd be thinking, 'This hand knocked out George Foreman in Africa.' "Certain things like that I would reminisce in my head and then at the same time I'm like, 'But you're just my grandpa.' It was a very strange feeling my whole life really. "But yeah, they definitely had some banter, you know, Poppy was a jokester, he's always joking." Foreman made a comeback in 1987 after ten years out and became the oldest heavyweight champion of all time aged 46. I would visit him in Arizona and he'd be sitting on his like reclining chair, I would shake his hand and in my head, I'd be thinking, 'This hand knocked out George Foreman in Africa.' Biaggio Ali Walsh But the multimillionaire businessman - who made over £150million through his cooking grills - died in March at 76. Ali meanwhile passed nearly ten years prior but Biaggio - an unbeaten MMA fighter and brother Nico a professional boxer - continue on the legacy. Middleweight Nico has 12 wins, two losses and one no-contest in his 15 boxing bouts while Biaggio - a former American football prospect - is 2-0 in the cage. Biaggio - signed to the Professional Fighters League - returns on June 27 in Chicago - but wants to compete all over the world - like his grandfather before him. He said: "I wanna just fight. So, anywhere it is, that'd be great. "And I think it's cool too, you get to travel and get to see a lot of new places and stuff. I'd never been to Saudi Arabia before until I fought there. "That's what's so cool about this job, you get to travel and see new places and destinations, places you never been to. "All are possibilities, especially with the PFL, man, I love the PFL." 5 Nico Ali Walsh is a professional boxer Credit: EPA 5 Brother Biaggio Ali Walsh is a pro MMA fighter Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Muhammad Ali would still tease George Foreman about Rumble in the Jungle 40 years on after they became best friends
MUHAMMAD ALI would still tease George Foreman about their Rumble in the Jungle 40 years on - after the pair became inseparable. ONE BILLION viewers watching worldwide. 5 Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in their 1974 Rumble in The Jungle Credit: BBC 5 The two became close friends in later years Credit: Getty And he did so using his famous rope-a-dope tactic - allowing Foreman to punch himself out before winning in round eight. The build-up was bitter and the rivalry carried on post-fight to lead to what was an expected rematch. But after Foreman claimed to have died in his dressing room after losing to Jimmy Young in 1976 - It also paved the way for Foreman to form a brotherhood with Ali - up until the boxing great's death in 2016. READ MORE IN boxing Ali's grandson, MMA star Biaggio, told SunSport: "My grandpa and George, they were very, very close. They spoke all the time. "The only memory I have with George myself was from my grandfather's 70th birthday party. "We met George there, I was 12 years old and even at 12 years old, I knew who George Foreman was. "I had seen the fight with him and Poppy and I was like, 'Oh, George Foreman, nice to meet you.' Most read in Boxing CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "He was such a nice guy, like super humble, down to earth and of just a very successful businessman at that point too. "So, really, that's like the only memory I have from George, but I do know that him and my grandfather, they were really close." Muhammad Ali's grandson Nico tried to hide his famous surname before Mike Tyson blew his cover Ali retired in 1981 after 61 fights and three heavyweight title reigns - but he was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease three years later. Although that did not stop the quick-witted sports great from throwing verbal jabs to his rival-turned-friend Foreman. Biaggio, 26, revealed: "Poppy was a jokester, man. Like he would always joke about certain things. "It's crazy when I would visit him in Arizona and he'd be sitting on his like reclining chair, I would shake his hand and in my head, I'd be thinking, 'This hand knocked out George Foreman in Africa.' "Certain things like that I would reminisce in my head and then at the same time I'm like, 'But you're just my grandpa.' It was a very strange feeling my whole life really. "But yeah, they definitely had some banter, you know, Poppy was a jokester, he's always joking." Foreman made a comeback in 1987 after ten years out and became the oldest heavyweight champion of all time aged 46. I would visit him in Arizona and he'd be sitting on his like reclining chair, I would shake his hand and in my head, I'd be thinking, 'This hand knocked out George Foreman in Africa.' Biaggio Ali Walsh But the multimillionaire businessman - who made over £150million through his cooking grills - died in March at 76. Ali meanwhile passed nearly ten years prior but Biaggio - an unbeaten MMA fighter and Middleweight Nico has 12 wins, two losses and one no-contest in his 15 boxing bouts while Biaggio - Biaggio - signed to the Professional Fighters League - returns on June 27 in Chicago - but wants to compete all over the world - like his grandfather before him. He said: "I wanna just fight. So, anywhere it is, that'd be great. "And I think it's cool too, you get to travel and get to see a lot of new places and stuff. I'd never been to Saudi Arabia before until I fought there. "That's what's so cool about this job, you get to travel and see new places and destinations, places you never been to. "All are possibilities, especially with the PFL, man, I love the PFL." 5 Nico Ali Walsh is a professional boxer Credit: EPA 5 Brother Biaggio Ali Walsh is a pro MMA fighter Credit: Getty 5 Biaggio, left, and brother Nico with their grandfather Muhammad Ali Credit: @biaggioaliwalsh
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Muhammad Ali's grandson Nico eyes UK debut fight after being inspired by Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn classic
Middleweight reveals why he has walked a very similar path AL BE HONEST Muhammad Ali's grandson Nico eyes UK debut fight after being inspired by Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn classic NICO ALI WALSH is dreaming of fighting in the UK - having been left in awe at Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn's thriller. Eubank beat Benn in their middleweight grudge match at Tottenham after 12 brutally classic rounds. Advertisement 3 Muhammad Ali's grandson Nico with Chris Eubank Jr Credit: X 3 Eubank beat Conor Benn at Tottenham Credit: Getty The pair of nepo babies somehow managed to match the thriller their father's treated fans to 35 years ago. And it inspired Ali Walsh - grandson to boxing's Greatest Muhammad Ali - to live up to his iconic surname. He told SunSport: 'I love Eubank. He's an awesome dude and then the fight, I mean, just a quick side note, the fight that him and Conor Benn put on was absolutely amazing. 'They put it on for, not just boxing fans, but they put it on for the kids who come from legacy, the kids who come from backgrounds where their family has done something before them. They put it on for all of us. So yeah, that was amazing." Advertisement READ MORE IN boxing MIKE DROP I'm related to the greatest boxer ever but changed my name to make my own way Eubank fell out with his eccentric dad Chris Sr after trying to walk his own path in the sport. But the two emotionally reconciled on the night of his fight with Benn - which helped inspire the iconic victory. Eubank Sr never wanted his son to follow in his footsteps - and infamously banned him until Lennox Lewis helped convince him otherwise. Reality TV cameras captured the moment Lewis talked Eubank Sr into allowing his 13-year-old son to box - paving the way for Jr's career. Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Ali Walsh had a similar fight on his hands with his parents - and revealed it was his grandad who helped get him the green light. He said: "My situation was a lot like that where I was trying to convince my parents. Muhammad Ali's grandson Nico tried to hide his famous surname before Mike Tyson blew his cover "My grandfather was on board 100 per cent from the start, but I was trying to convince my parents to get on board.' Advertisement Ali Walsh is now 15 fights into his career since turning professional in 2021, winning 12 times, losing twice with one no-contest. As an amateur, he had 30 bouts and tried to keep his surname a secret until Mike Tyson showed up to one of his fights and blew his cover. Ali Walsh returned with victory in Guinea against Ebenezer Sowah in May after a shock loss to Juan Carlos Guerra Jr in February. The middleweight has twice fought in Africa - 50 years after his grandfather's famous Rumble in The Jungle win against George Foreman in Congo. Advertisement Ali fought all around the world, including England and now Ali Walsh is desperate to do the same. He said: 'Let me tell you something, if I fight in the UK, if I get told that I'm fighting in the UK, that would change my life. 'That's the one place on earth I've always wanted to fight. Seriously, London or anywhere in the UK. 'The boxing fans in the UK are better than anywhere on Earth. They're better than here in Vegas and Vegas is the capital of the world for boxing but I would love to fight there.' Advertisement
