r, since newcomer George Foreman had dethroned Frazier as the champion. Ali arranged to fight for the title against Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, a bout billed as the Rumble in the Jungle. Because Foreman was younger, stronger, and larger as well as being considered the hardest hitter in boxing, he was favored to win. Ali employed a tactic called the rope-a-dope, in which he rested against the ropes while Foreman pummeled him with little success for almost eight rounds. Foreman expended energy while Ali bided his time. When Ali finally came off the ropes, he landed a quick succession of combinations, including a stiff right that sent the champ to the canvas where he was counted out seconds before the end of the round. Ali had regained the title. In September of 1975, for the third time, Ali fought the unrelenting Joe Frazier. The fight was billed as the Thrilla in Manila and Ali won when Frazier was unable to answer the bell for the final round. Although Ali lost a title defense early in 1978 to Leon Spinks, he later defeated Spinks in a rematch to win his title for the third time. On June 26, 1979, at the age of 37, Ali retired as champion with a professional record of 59 victories and three defeats. Because of his lavish lifestyle, Ali found himself in need of money. In 1980 he returned to the ring to fight Larry Holmes for the World Boxing Council (WBC) title and a guaranteed purse of $8 million. When Ali was unable to answer the bell for the eleventh round, Holmes won with a technical knockout. One year later Ali boxed professionally for the last time, when he fought Trevor Berbick. One month before his fortieth birthday, Ali was defeated for the fifth time in his professional career. After losing the fight to Holmes, Ali's health appeared to be on a rapid decline: he seemed sluggish and weak in motor skills. Initially he was misdiagnosed as having a thyroid condition. Upon another medical evaluation in 1982, Ali began treatment for P...
