An iconic fight between two iconic boxers. On this day in 1974, Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in one of the most historic fights.

Held in Zaire the fight pitted the undefeated heavyweight champion, Foreman, against the champ, Ali, who was widely expected be chewed up and spat out. Foreman was the biggest and baddest man on the planet but he was outfoxed by the then 32-year-old Ali, who unveiled his ‘rope a dope’ tactic of leaning back on the ropes and allowing himself to be hit.

The tactic, while damaging, sapped the energy of Foreman and when Ali vacated the ropes in the eighth, he earned the KO, becoming the first heavyweight to win the world title three times.

More memorable events on this day:

1945: Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to the Montreal Royals having broken the colour barrier to previously sign him for the Dodgers.

1974: Nolan Ryan threw the fastest recorded pitch (100.9 MPH).

1988: The New York Jets beat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time.

2013: The Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 in the World Series for their eighth success.