25 January 2007, southafrica.info. Probably the most talked about fight in the history of boxing took place in Africa, in 1974, when Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in the "Rumble in the Jungle" in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) to recover the world heavyweight crown.
This week Tuesday, another Ali - his 29-year-old daughter, Laila - arrived in Africa ready for a fight.
Laila Ali is unbeaten in 23 professional bouts, 19 of which she won by knockout - a higher KO percentage than her father managed - and she aims to keep her streak going when she takes on Gwendolyn O'Neill at Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg on 3 February.
The world super-middleweight champion told a press conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday that she aimed to go one better on her previous encounter with O'Neill, whom she knocked out in the third round of their 2004 fight.
This time, she said, she aims to do it in two rounds - although "Gwendolyn will be better-prepared this time and a more formidable opponent, so I'm not taking anything for granted."
Ali is a heavy favourite to beat O'Neill, who sports a record of 12 wins, four losses and a draw, with seven knockouts. Since losing to Ali, O'Neill has fought three times and won, but the opposition has been less than stellar: she beat Margaret Walcott 1-5-1, Pamela London 4-2-1 and Krystal Lessey 1-9.

South African boxing history

But whatever the outcome on 3 February, Ali and O'Neill will have made South African boxing history.
It will be the first time in the country that a fight between two women heads a bill which also features men. And not just any men: local hero Cassius Baloyi will be looking for his fifth world title when he takes on Argentina's Nazareno Ruiz for the vacant IBO junior lightweight title.
Ali terms her father, who recently celebrated his 65th birthday, "an inspiration", but says he doesn't really approve of his daughter being a boxer, although he has come to realize that she is pretty good at what she does.
She says herfather tried to talk her out of following a career in the ring, but says he has supported her since she made her decision.
Most recognized female fighter
The photogenic Ali has become the most recognized female fighter in the world today, and it has helped her land covers with Time Magazine and Cosmopolitan. Major companies have also recognized her marketability - she has signed endorsement deals with Adidas, Ford, BUM equipment, Nicotrol, and Dr Pepper.
Ali, it seems, has it all; she's a dynamic performer in the ring, with the fast hands and feet her father once showed off, and the looks to pull in new fight fans.
Of course, being the daughter of Muhammad Ali has helped her plenty. Laila says she knows this and she's happy with the situation because it has produced more advantages than disadvantages.
Like her father, she is not afraid to speak about her ability. She says she is strong, packing plenty of power, and that comes with a mean streak. However, she says, her ability is not limited to that, because she also knows how to box as opposed to simply bombing away.
Inspired by Oprah
Her inspiration, she says, is another woman with strong ties to South Africa: Oprah Winfrey. Ali reckons Winfrey is a smart businesswoman who has her critics, but she is always doing things for others.
After her fight against O'Neill, Ali has some important plans away from the ring. She's planning to start a family with her fiancé, Curtis Conway, a former NFL wide receiver with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers.
It is also reported that she will be part of ABC's fourth season of Dancing with the Stars, along with country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and actor Ian Ziering, among others.

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