The Ghana Boxing Authority joins the World, and not just the boxing world to mourn the passing of the Greatest sporting figure of the twentieth century, Muhammad Ali.
Ali was beyond any shade of doubt the greatest figure ever in boxing whose popularity, appeal and legacy transcended the narrow confines of this fascinating and sometimes controversial sport.
In the last quarter of the last century he was undisputably the most famous face on the planet and to say that on any day he would be recognised in the world’s most remote villages is not an exaggeration.
His refusal to accept the draft in the USA to fight in the unpopular Vietnam war drew many young people all over the world as a catalyst for protest and this stance projected him from being not just a famous sportsman to a rallying point for more significant issues bordering on race, religion, war and politics.
This stance unfortunately cost him his World Championship and his peak boxing years but he came back not the sleek, untouchable fighter that he previously was but a more cunning and shrewd operator who knew not just what he had to do to win a fight but also to sell it.
His greatest victories in the ring were achieved at the times when nobody, not even his own cornermen gave him a dogs chance. He proved the whole world wrong by upsetting the ‘Big Bear’ Sonny Liston to win the World Championship in 1964 and when everyone thought he was being led to the slaughter he shocked the entire planet by demolishing the dreaded George Foreman in 1974 in the Rumble of the Jungle.
His rhyming predictions and the psyching of his opponents, literally reading their thoughts and getting into their heads before he fought them took the sport to another level and placed him on a pedestal none of his lesser imitators could aspire to reach.
For us in Ghana the mere mention of his name evokes nostalgic memories. Glimpses of him smiling and mingling with ordinary folks in his Kente outfit during his historic visit to the country in the early sixties at the invitation of our first President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is still etched in the minds of many who were old enough to witness that spectacle.
The World will surely miss this extraordinary and phenomenal character. On behalf of the Ghana Boxing Authority we wish to express our profound sympathies to his entire family. May this Great Man rest in peace.
Credit: Ghana Boxing Authority
I wanted to thank you for this amazing read!! I definitely appreciating
every small bit of it I have you bookmarked to take a look at
new stuff you post.
Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!