Mobutu Sese Seko Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families" (1998), wrote: Mobutu also was one of the men who was instrumental in bringing the "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman to Zaire on 30 October 1974. According to the documentary "When We Were Kings", promoter Don King promised each fighter US$5 million for the fight. Mobutu was the only one who was willing to fund such amounts. Mobutu, wanting to expand his country's image, put up the nation's money to do so. According to a quote in the film, Ali
The Rumble in the Jungle hurt him. Before the end of the first round, Foreman began to catch up to Ali, landing punches of his own. Foreman had also been trained to cut off the ring and prevent escape. Ali realized that he would tire if Foreman could keep making one step to Ali's two, so he changed tactics. Ali had told his trainer, Angelo Dundee, and his fans that he had a secret plan for Foreman. As the second round commenced, Ali began to lean on the ropes and cover up, letting Foreman punch him on the arms and body (a strategy Ali later