Angelo Dundee, Ali's trainer, wasn't a fan of it either but it worked. For that matter Mayweather and Hopkins have used the technique themselves. The key to the technique is that while yes you take hits particularly blows to the body, is you protect yourself from more precise blows that could be more devastating. It's gives a boxer a way of both gauging an opponent and letting them expend themselves. In the case of Ali it was away of dealing with a stronger and more aggressive opponent like Foreman without having to go toe to toe with him. I'm not a boxer but employ a similar type tactic frequently in ground work by allowing a more aggressive opponent put me into what might seem to be a more advantageous position. From there I keep up a defense that uses less energy while they expend themselves until I can get my opening. Since I'm not an active competitor I mainly use this when rolling with my students who are all younger and nearly all stronger than me. It gives me an opportunity to both survive their attacks but also assess their technique so I can better point out things. Obviously there is a lot of risque to rope a dope that an opponent will actually land a devastating blow or you will take too much cumulative damage but this is again shows how much of great fighter Ali was. Ali dedicated himself to hardening his body to withstand the punishment so that even if his defense faltered he could take the blows. He also worked the psychology of his opponent to take away precision and patience in their attacks. As I noted it took a lot of discipline and toughness to commit to that strategy and something that Ali had plenty.
RIP to Ali. I personally find it very hard to idolize people, as many seem to have done with Ali (or see silly Kanye thread right now). He was popularized because of his boxing greatest, and then of course was courageous enough, and "ballsy" enough to use his voice and platform to effect change. Good for him! Did what many others who have been popularized didn't do, or won't do. And what many "normal" people won't do. But also tons of "normal" people that do significant good as well, without the idolization. And there's lot of "normal" people that are just great, normal people, and just impact those around them in normal ways... and they are no lesser, or greater people to me. And there are of course other aspects to his person, persona, and story that aren't all roses. As with everyone. RIP.
The "rope-a-dope" strategy in the Foreman fight is mostly a myth. Ali himself admitted it. The only part of that strategy that is true is that Foreman fought like a dope.
what do you mean? Have you seen When We Were Kings? Several people talk about it as a strategy he decided upon during the fight. Besides, doesn't matter if he actually invented it in the ring as the only way to beat Foreman in that fight, because he certainly featured it in several fights after.
