In a recent interview, Donald McRae reflected on a pivotal moment in South African history, recalling the iconic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974.
“Fifty years ago, I remember the thrill of hearing the words ‘Foreman is down!’ echoing across South Africa’s racial divide,” McRae shared. “At that time, in a country deeply divided by apartheid, Muhammad Ali was viewed as a miracle-maker. It was a strange situation; I first learned about Ali from a black man named Cassius, who ran an illegal shebeen near my house.”
McRae described his early encounters with Cassius, who would often retrieve McRae’s football when it rolled over the garden wall. “He would return it with a playful dance, laughing and singing about Ali: ‘Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.’ Those words had a rhythm and meaning that captivated me. When I asked him who he was singing about, he was incredulous. ‘You mean you don’t know? Ali is the heavyweight champion of the world!’ he declared.”
Years later, as McRae turned 13, he learned of Ali’s earlier struggles, including being stripped of his title for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. “Ali transcended the boundaries of race,” McRae noted, reminiscing about how even their Afrikaans teacher, who many suspected was a racist, softened when discussing Ali. “To him, Ali wasn’t just ‘one of our blacks’; he was the king of the world.”
The excitement in McRae’s voice heightened as he recalled the anticipation for the Rumble in the Jungle, held on October 30, 1974. “The whole of South Africa was buzzing about this fight taking place in Zaire. Don King promoted it brilliantly, and with the African backdrop, it felt like something monumental.”
He reflected on Ali’s formidable opponent, George Foreman, who was feared following his crushing defeat of Joe Frazier. “I remember thinking, ‘Foreman by knockout,’ fearing for Ali’s safety.” Curiously, it was Bennie da Silva, his friend’s father and a boxing expert, who countered, “Ali will dance his way to victory.”
However, due to government restrictions, television was banned in South Africa, leaving radio as McRae’s only connection to the fight. “On fight night, I felt a mix of dread and excitement, tuning into the BBC radio broadcast,” he recounted. “To my initial shock, Ali didn’t dance; instead, he put his strategy into action—he leaned against the ropes and absorbed Foreman’s blows, showcasing his famed ‘rope-a-dope’ technique.”
As Ali began to shift the tide of the fight, McRae’s disbelief turned to exhilaration. “And then came the moment that changed everything: ‘Foreman is down!’ echoed through the radio. I couldn’t believe it. That day, Ali proved he truly was the king of the world, and I felt a profound sense of pride that his coronation took place in Africa—where, at last, we knew we really belonged.”
