This match is serious," Ali
told reporters at a press conference on fight week. "It's not like your average rassling match. The worst thing I could do would be to involve myself in a public scandal or fraud...that's the worst thing I could do as a religious man. A fixed or rehearsed fight—never."
Rules were negotiated in tense sessions that lasted late into the night. Ali wasn't especially concerned. His people, however, were terrified of what might happen in a real fight. Eventually,
Meltzer reported, the resulting limitations on Inoki would make it difficult for the wrestler to thrive
A set of rules were put together for this last minute shoot. No takedowns below the waist, because they didn’t want anything to happen to Ali’s legs. No closed fist punches. No kicks to the head and body. The only reason they didn’t say no kicks to the legs, which proved to be the key move of the match, was that nobody in those days even knew what low kicks were. Particularly, they banned the back suplex Inoki used to beat Ruska. No submissions. Inoki could use Greco-roman takedowns but no ground and pound. If Inoki grabbed Ali or tried to put him in any kind of move, Ali could get a break by grabbing the ropes and they would be reset standing. Inoki in essence was facing one of the greatest heavyweight boxers who ever lived, while wearing a straitjacket.
