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
George Foreman by the WBA and WBC. In 1972, still undefeated and with an impressive knockout record, Foreman was set to challenge undefeated and Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier. Despite boycotting a title elimination caused by the vacancy resulting from the championship being stripped from Muhammad Ali, Frazier had won the title from Jimmy Ellis and defended his title four times since, including a 15-round unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Ali in 1971 after Ali had beaten Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry. Despite Foreman's superior size and reach, he was not expected to beat Frazier and was a 3:1 underdog