The rope-a-dope strategy, of course, is one of fakery and delay, where the weaker of the boxers huddles against the ropes, covering up, pretending injury, and hoping his stronger opponent will "punch himself out".

Above, classic 'rope-a-dope' tactics paid off against George Foreman, while, inset, Ali won the rubber match with Joe Frazier in 1975

This one's a complete mystery - and the bookies are playing rope-a-dope in the opening round at 4/11 the hosts.

According to the BBC, Hamilton said he was drawing on Ali's famous 'rope-a-dope' victory against George Foreman in 1974 in closing the 29-point gap to his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

Scotland 12 Ireland 8 SCOTLAND interim head coach Scott Johnson watched his team do the rugby equivalent of the rope-a-dope then admitted it will not do if the team are to mount a serious Six Nations title challenge.

"This has been a classic example of rope-a-dope. C* I'm deeply disappointed my Republican colleagues are preventing the Senate from passing additional critical sanctions against Iran," Reid said in an exchange with Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and other Republicans on the floor.

Against Cooper he bought a dazed Ali more time by highlighting a tear in his glove, while for the 'Rumble in the Jungle' he was accused of loosening the ropes so that Ali could employ his 'rope-a-dope' tactics against Foreman.

3 Ali eighth-round KO v George Foreman, Kinshasa 1974 The Rumble in the Jungle - saw Ali employ the "rope-a-dope" tactics, lolling back on the ropes and inviting punishment.

Ali had simply stayed on the ropes and withstood Foreman's ferocious power punches (a tactic famously dubbed the rope-a-dope) before ripping apart a worn-down Foreman en route to victory.

A recent entry on the site is Rope-A-Dope LLC of Valley Stream, N.Y., which "was formed to manufacture and market sporting goods under a license with Muhammad Ali to use his likeness and signature on the company's products." Its first projected product: a jump rope with the boxing legend's signature engraved in the handle.

The scenario you present looks more like "Rope-a-Dope" to me: one fighter letting the other swing away, knowing he can't land a knockout blow.

ROPE-A-DOPE: Issac Sebaduka is punched out of the ring by Coventry's Dean Pithie at the Sports Connexion on Saturday Pictures: RICHARD NELMES; JUBILATION: Dean Pithie celebrates his victory

We can't be sure, of course, whether the president has been saying, "I am your leader; I must follow you," or "I am your leader; I must make you think I will follow you." Clearly, though, he isn7t saying what many at home and abroad want to hear: "I am your leader; follow me." The rope-a-dope approach to governance that is so much a part of his nature isn't leadership.