Many a man is born to have an influence on others, but only a very few men's influence is capable of lasting a lifetime, spanning continents and crossing all social barriers in a banner of unqualified acceptability. Mohammad Ali was such a man and sadly he died today.
Mohammad Ali played a very important part in my life. Born in the same year as me, I can vividly recall him winning an Olympic Gold Medal for boxing in 1960. At the time I was 18 years old and used to box with a Youth Club in Hightown, Liversedge. I was never a boxer who had the talent to go anywhere; I had a good punch and that was it. No, I boxed at the time to improve my balance, as an accident in earlier life had left my left leg three inches shorter than my right.
The world will doubtlessly remember Mohammad Ali for being the best boxer of all time, and specifically, his three magnificent fights with Joe Frazier, culminating with the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight with George Foreman in 1974.This was the fight when sheer will power and his ability to absorb every punch that Foreman was capable of throwing at him on the ropes eventually led to Foreman tiring himself out and Mohammad Ali coming alive again to win the fight by finishing off poor George.
Mohammad Ali was much more than his world class status as boxer supreme. He was a man of contradiction who would boast about his own good looks and ability that would automatically rile the press against him; yet in truth, according to the books on his private life written about him since his retirement, he was one of the most genuinely modest men one could hope to find. If he had a flaw, it was his liking for the ladies, both good and bad ones!
His mark upon the world wasn't the greatness of his boxing prowess, but his contribution as a philanthropist, humanitarian and civil rights activist. He was prepared to be stripped of his title, banned from boxing for four years and risk the wrath of most Americans by refusing to fight in Vietnam. Indeed, after winning his Olympic gold medal, he was refused service in one of America's 'white only' restaurants and threw his medal in the Ohio River out of disgust at the blatant racism he had experienced.
His influence on so many people was simply immeasurable and so many youngsters became better citizens by his presence in their lives. He is the one person whom the late Nelson Mandela idolised, not just as a boxer but as a force for good in an often intolerant and cruel world.
To me he will be remembered as the supreme athlete who transcended his sport and who conducted the remainder of his life with dignity after he contracted Parkinson's disease in 1984. I am in awe of so few people in this world, but he was a person I would dearly have loved to meet once to shake his hand and to tell him that 'he mattered'.
Mohammad Ali took himself to the top of the world and throughout his life he stayed on the top, buttressed by sheer will power and self belief. He was truly 'The Greatest' and may he rest in peace." William Forde: June 4th, 2016.
Mohammad Ali played a very important part in my life. Born in the same year as me, I can vividly recall him winning an Olympic Gold Medal for boxing in 1960. At the time I was 18 years old and used to box with a Youth Club in Hightown, Liversedge. I was never a boxer who had the talent to go anywhere; I had a good punch and that was it. No, I boxed at the time to improve my balance, as an accident in earlier life had left my left leg three inches shorter than my right.
The world will doubtlessly remember Mohammad Ali for being the best boxer of all time, and specifically, his three magnificent fights with Joe Frazier, culminating with the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight with George Foreman in 1974.This was the fight when sheer will power and his ability to absorb every punch that Foreman was capable of throwing at him on the ropes eventually led to Foreman tiring himself out and Mohammad Ali coming alive again to win the fight by finishing off poor George.
Mohammad Ali was much more than his world class status as boxer supreme. He was a man of contradiction who would boast about his own good looks and ability that would automatically rile the press against him; yet in truth, according to the books on his private life written about him since his retirement, he was one of the most genuinely modest men one could hope to find. If he had a flaw, it was his liking for the ladies, both good and bad ones!
His mark upon the world wasn't the greatness of his boxing prowess, but his contribution as a philanthropist, humanitarian and civil rights activist. He was prepared to be stripped of his title, banned from boxing for four years and risk the wrath of most Americans by refusing to fight in Vietnam. Indeed, after winning his Olympic gold medal, he was refused service in one of America's 'white only' restaurants and threw his medal in the Ohio River out of disgust at the blatant racism he had experienced.
His influence on so many people was simply immeasurable and so many youngsters became better citizens by his presence in their lives. He is the one person whom the late Nelson Mandela idolised, not just as a boxer but as a force for good in an often intolerant and cruel world.
To me he will be remembered as the supreme athlete who transcended his sport and who conducted the remainder of his life with dignity after he contracted Parkinson's disease in 1984. I am in awe of so few people in this world, but he was a person I would dearly have loved to meet once to shake his hand and to tell him that 'he mattered'.
Mohammad Ali took himself to the top of the world and throughout his life he stayed on the top, buttressed by sheer will power and self belief. He was truly 'The Greatest' and may he rest in peace." William Forde: June 4th, 2016.
