Rope-a-dope

Posted by ESC February 19, 2004In reply to Rope a dope posted by ESC on February 19, 2004

"rope a dope"
do any of you guys know of the origin of this one? It is a new one on me. Thanks--Joel

It was a Muhammad Ali boxing tactic. But I don't know if he coined the phrase.

1974 -- Regains the heavyweight title in the "Rumble in the Jungle" on Oct. 30 in Kinshasa, Zaire after knocking out champion George Foreman in the eighth round. He successfully uses his "rope-a-dope" strategy - Ali allowed Foreman to get him against the ropes and swing away until he tired himself out. Then Ali attacked.