BY KUNLE AWOSIYAN
Towards the 1974’s “Rumble in the Jungle”, between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa Zaire, the public ratings had favoured Foreman.
The champion had demolished ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier and ‘muscular’ Ken Norton. He did it in style, knocking the two down severally before taking them out.
Foreman was dreaded. One of the hardest punchers ever. Big, tall, mean and dangerous but then he lost all to a more technical, handsome and wiser Ali in round eight in Kinshasa.
It was a fight Ali’s team did not want him to take going by his fragile frame and the fact that he was just coming out of retirement at 32 to face Foreman, 25.
Even in the dressing room before the walkout, all members of Ali’s team looked scared but Ali motivated them when he said, “Why are you all looking scared as if you are going to a funeral. I’m the one that is fighting Foreman not you. Damn George Foreman because I’m going to win the fight and if you can’t smile as we go out just open your teeth as if you do.”
Ali did not only beat Foreman, he conquered the boxing world alone with his words, confidence and hard training of his mind. He went into the ring and came out the new champion. His team never thought he would win but he won. He wanted the fight not his team.
There is something so significant in this and it is about the man that is going to the war.
Is the warrior ready for the war? What has he done when no one was watching to prepare himself? How confident is he? What is his motivating factor, money or fame?
Is he being pushed to go to a war he never wanted or prepared for? Did he accept the war just for him to lose and stop the shout of his name?
Just so many questions in my mind and posers to Anthony Joshua as the news of him fighting Deontay Wilder next year had continued to fly around.
It is a news that always scare me not because Wilder will win but because of the mindset of Joshua. The Briton had got the skill set to beat Wilder but he has no mindset of Ali to do so.
Ali’s mindset was domineering just like that of Wilder who believes he will always win any contest. This is lacking in Joshua despite his physique and power. Ali said to Foreman, “You are too small to be in the ring with me”.
What Joshua needs is the confidence to go to this war and the resolve to absorb the heat in the ring.
He should not allow himself to be pushed neither should he fight just to stop the noise once and for all. If he must fight, he should be ready and make it his own not his promoter’s or his team.
Why are those who had written him off still wanted him to fight Wilder? Even when the two have no belt to fight for, the world still sees the bout as a big match.
Next week, Joshua will be fighting Otto Wallin while Wilder goes against Joseph Parker. This is the first condition they must fulfil to make their fight happen next year.
Wilder lacks all what Joshua has in terms of tactics but he possesses confidence and power, which of course have helped him over the years.
Among men who fought and exposed Wilder were Tyson Fury and Luiz Ortiz who refused to bow to his bullying to dominate him.
Of course Wilder beat Ortiz twice, the Cuban dominated the two fights until the American’s powerful right hand fell on him. The southpaw was a veteran that could not continue because of his age.
Against Fury, it was glaring that Wilder was beatable when pressure is put on him. Can Joshua put pressure on Wilder? Is he ready for this war? Time will tell.
