Muhammad Ali E-Book

Fiaz Rafiq

• Herausgeber: Arena Sport
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 641

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

Muhammad Ali is one of the most remarkable sports personalities and celebrities of our time. He is a legend who transcended boxing and rose above all sport. A man of mythic proportions, Ali rose to become a prominent feature of our cultural landscape. Through exclusive accounts from family members, close friends, associates and adversaries, Fiaz Rafiq has compiled a compelling and intriguing insight into a sporting legend. Muhammad Ali's story is an epic one, one of bravery, courage, hope, skill and indomitable will. Muhammad Ali: The Life of a Legend is an oral biography of the greatest icon of world sport who continues to influence millions. Among those interviewed include, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Chuck Wepner, Joe Bugner, Angelo Dundee, Don King, Jim Brown, Lou Gossett Jr., Dr. Harry Edwards, Butch Lewis, Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, some close family members and some of the top sports journalists who worked with Ali, and many more.

Leseprobe

MUHAMMAD ALI

THE LIFE OF A LEGEND

FIAZ RAFIQ

This edition first published in Great Britain in 2020 by

ARENA SPORT

An imprint of Birlinn Limited

West Newington House

10 Newington Road

Edinburgh

EH9 1QS

www.arenasportbooks.co.uk

First published in 2010 as Muhammad Ali: Conversations by HNL Publishing

Copyright © Fiaz Rafiq, 2010 & 2020

ISBN: 9781909715936

eBook ISBN: 9781788853293

The right of Fiaz Rafiq to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The publisher apologises for any errors or omissions and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available on request from the British Library.

Designed and typeset by Polaris Publishing, Edinburgh

www.polarispublishing.com

Printed in Great Britain by CPI Group

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD BY RASHEDA ALI

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE: FAMILY

Muhammad Ali Jr.

Rasheda Ali

Hana Ali

Maryum Ali

CHAPTER TWO: THE JOURNALISTS

Robert Lipsyte

Bert Sugar

Jerry Izenberg

Neil Leifer

Dave Kindred

George Kalinsky

Gary Smith

CHAPTER THREE: THE OPPONENTS

George Foreman

Larry Holmes

Joe Bugner

Ron Lyle

Chuck Wepner

Richard Dunn

CHAPTER FOUR: FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES

Angelo Dundee

Bobby Goodman

Don King

Jim Brown

Walter Beach

Fred Williamson

Dr. Harry Edwards

Jhoon Rhee

Louis Gossett Jr.

George Dillman

Jose Sulaiman

Leon Gast

Butch Lewis

Alex Wallau

Murad Muhammad

Sugar Ray Leonard

Evander Holyfield

Jimmy Walker

APPENDIX - MUHAMMAD ALI TIMELINE

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A big thank you to the staff of M.A.I. and Impact magazines: Moira, Martin, Neal, John, Roy and especially editor Bob Sykes for giving me the opportunity and embracing me earlier on my writing career. The fifteen years working relationship was fun. To all my editors at the magazines and national newspapers whose help and support have contributed to my success in my professional writing career. Also, I would like to thank the personalities I have interviewed over the years from the sports and entertainment worlds – you are an integral part of the reason behind my success.

I would like to thank my personal long-time friends Diana Lee Inosanto; Royce Gracie; Rasheda Ali; Ron Balicki; Bob Sykes; Ronnie Green, Lance Lewis, Seyfi Shevket and Peter Consterdine for their countless years of support and encouragement.

I would like to thank Muhammad Ali’s brother Rahaman Ali, and Ron Brashear for their friendship and working relationship. I would like to thank my agent Charlie Brotherstone.

Thank you to my editor Joel Snape for editing the manuscript. A special thank you must go to Neville Moir and my editor Pete Burns at my publishers, Arena, for believing in me and for all their hard work.

I would like to thank my friends in the industry, both in the USA and United Kingdom, who have enriched my life and supported me.

Last but not least, thanks to the man himself, Muhammad Ali, and also Bruce Lee, for without you both my dreams may never have manifested into a reality.

FOREWORD

I was deeply honored when my dear friend Fiaz Rafiq asked me to write the foreword to his book Muhammad Ali: The Life of a Legend. It was refreshing to read all of the beautiful encounters from prominent figures that made a huge impact in my father’s career. Figures such as Angelo Dundee, Jim Brown, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Chuck Wepner, Larry Holmes, Dr. Harry Edwards, Lou Gossett Jr, Jose Sulaiman, Butch Lewis, and many others. These stories encompass the diversity of my father: the sportsman, friend, father, family man, humanitarian and icon.

What made my dad the greatest was his inexplicable talents in the ring, but most of all the love he had for his people. It was incredibly spiritual how he made others, especially minorities and African-Americans, feel about themselves. What he stood for and how he inspired the world to be great and do great things will continue to impact the very foundation of our hearts. I hope this oral biography helps to inspire others to not only love themselves, but make a difference in others’ lives and encourage us to be the best version of ourselves.

Thank you for the memories.

God bless.

Rasheda Ali

PREFACE

One of the most remarkable personalities of our time and perhaps the greatest sportsman to emerge in the modern era is Muhammad Ali. A figure of mythic proportions who was perhaps the most recognizable man alive in his time, at the height of his career The Greatest made it into the Guinness Book of Records for being the most written about human being on the planet. Ali himself, of course, was characteristically humble about his own stature. “I’m the most recognized and loved man that ever lived because there weren’t no satellites when Jesus and Moses were around,” he told one interviewer, not long after John Lennon proclaimed The Beatles bigger than Jesus. “So people far away in the villages didn’t know about them.”

Almost four decades after his last fight, Ali is still remembered for both his boxing and his principles – for the daring lean-away style and hummingbird jab that flummoxed Sonny Liston and the stand he took against the Vietnam War, for his battles with Frazier and Foreman and his willingness to spend time with almost anyone. He was a fighter with a great love for the world, and a figure who carried his bravery far beyond the ring. He might be more beloved today than he was as the heavyweight champ, appealing to men and women, young and old.

For me, Ali has been one of the two great influences in my life. Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee both impacted pop culture and the world in different ways, two fighters who changed the meaning of the word and had a profound effect on me personally. Both men stood up for what they believed in. Both men fought against racist stereotypes, overcame insurmountable odds and left legacies that are still in evidence today. Lee’s spectacular life was cut short as he was reaching him prime – his early death cemented his legendary status. Ali lived to the ripe age of 74, and his influence is arguably greater.

Having already interviewed dozens of Bruce Lee’s friends, relatives and associates to write an oral history of the Little Dragon, I knew from experience that such an endeavor was one of the best ways to shed new light on a beloved icon. I also knew from the beginning of writing this book that attempting to capture the life of an individual of the caliber of Ali would be an arduous task – to say nothing of trying to say something new about a man who has had so many column inches, books, films and TV shows devoted to him. Nevertheless, The Greatest endeared himself to me as I pursued him – with every revelation from his friends and family revealing more about a man that so many people know something about. I was intrigued as I immersed myself in Ali’s life, finding new depths to a man already famous for his charitable work and giving nature. There were also complexities to the three-time heavyweight champion that I had never considered, strengths and weaknesses that humanized the legend as I learned about them. Gradually, I began to piece together the jigsaw puzzle of a complex man – his political, social and religious leanings, his sensibilities and habits, and the things that made him so beloved.

I have gone to some lengths to make this tome a balanced read as well as a compelling one. I believe, and I’m sure many may share this thought, that it is incumbent to broach the facets of Ali’s life that go beyond his boxing career. Ali was a catalyst for social change, which resonated with and endeared him to many people. Of course, the humanistic side to the man and the public persona are both appealing and profoundly define the essence of Ali’s true character.

This book has been a tremendous task to put together. In researching it, I reached out to dozens of Ali’s family members, friends and colleagues, collaborators, coaches and acquaintances. I spoke to old sparring partners about days in the gym, to former opponents about how it felt to face the greatest of all time, and to some of his closest friends about how Ali acted when the cameras were off. What I hope emerges is a more intimate sort of biography, an unvarnished version of events that allows everyone to tell their own story. I feel with great conviction that this unconventional approach is one of the best ways to tell a story, as it allows the reader to make up their own minds about a complex individual and build up their own picture of who he was as a man. In these pages, you’ll discover a vibrant, humorous, intuitive man who was a warm, caring and approachable person – an astonishing fighter who was as gentle outside the ring as he was ferocious inside it.

Furthermore, through personal accounts of family members, close friends, associates and adversaries, this book showcases the thoughts, memories and anecdotes of a remarkable public figure who refused to let fame go to his head. Talking to those who were close to Ali, I found new reasons to admire him. His importance as an historical figure is well documented, but dozens of tiny moments came to light in the course of my interviews that showed just why he was admired.

Muhammad Ali is many things to many people. Many view him as the greatest heavyweight boxing champion and sportsman to emerge in modern times. Others are inspired by his courage and humanitarian work. People from all walks of life are aware of this symbolic figure and celebrity, whose mass appeal and awareness is still evident despite his demise. I hope that in these pages, devoted fans of The Greatest, as well as those who only know him from grainy YouTube clips and news footage, will discover something new about a modern-day legend.

Fiaz Rafiq

INTRODUCTION

In the 1960s, two sportsmen emerged on the global stage who would eventually reach such heights of fame that each would be recognizable from one name alone. Both were black men from unpromising backgrounds; both won vast fortunes and became synonymous with success in their respective fields. Soccer’s Edson Arantes do Nascimento, of Brazil, became the world’s greatest player and an iconic figure of the most played game on the planet – known to his fans as Pele. Parallel to this Ali garnered mass appeal as he elevated the sport of boxing to something like art. But while Pele and Ali both helped their sports to truly become, respectively, the beautiful game and the sweet science, Ali went on to transcend his sport and become something greater.

The essentials of his life, of course, are well-established. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., on January 17, 1942, Ali grew up in what, for the time, was a relatively middle-class African-American family in Louisville, Kentucky. He changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after joining the controversial religious group the Nation of Islam, just days after claiming the heavyweight crown, arguably the most important title in sports, from the hard-slugging Sonny Liston. Subsequently he was catapulted to fame like no sportsman before; rising from the obscurity of small-town life to global prominence.

Every great sporting figure, of course, is a product of their era, and the 1960s was a time when two of the principal preoccupations for the American population were equality of rights for African-Americans and war. The civil rights movement that came to national prominence during the mid-1950s was a huge influence on Ali, as he became more aware that African-Americans were the people whose blood and sweat helped build America yet they faced discrimination, poverty and were treated with disdain as second-class citizens. During Ali’s upbringing, African-Americans were harassed, beaten and even murdered by whites regularly, and the case of Emmett Till could not have escaped his notice. The Ku Klux Klan used violence against blacks and attacked and murdered them and burned down houses – behavior which was particularly rife in the Southern States. The struggle was about more than merely civil rights under law; the people who had played a pivotal role in building the greatest country in the world wanted to be treated like any other white citizen.

So, during the 1960s the stage was set for stepping up the movement to achieve freedom, justice and equality for the African-American population. In this battle, leaders like Malcolm X (also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz), and Martin Luther King took a stand against racism as they fought for dignity and respect as well as social and economic equality. Dr King was inspired by Gandhi’s non-violent activism, but Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam were less inclined to take the moral high road. Muhammad Ali would soon step into this struggle, defying the establishment and risking his career in the process. He stood up for what he believed in and transformed the image of African-Americans.

Meanwhile, the civil rights movement in the United States attracted attention globally and became a lodestone for the human rights revolution worldwide. Most of the campaign for civil rights took place in the Southern part of the United States, where marches, boycotts and ‘sit-ins’ were the primary forms of protest. Although Ali didn’t come from the ghetto like many other African-Americans – he grew up in a middle-class family – he understood the struggle facing every other black American and was more than able to empathize with their hardships. In a time when the heavyweight champion of the world was regarded as perhaps the greatest sportsman on the planet, he used his stature to speak out on issues that sorely required public attention, and would eventually take center stage during one of the most volatile decades of the century.

A key part of Ali’s position as a lightning rod for controversy, of course, was his membership of the Nation of Islam. Founded in Detroit, Michigan, by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930, the Nation was, in the words of its founder, developed to ‘teach the downtrodden and defenseless black people a thorough knowledge of God and of themselves, and put them on the road to self-independence with a superior culture and higher civilization’. Fard disappeared in 1933 with little explanation, and after a brief succession his former assistant, later known as the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, took leadership of the organization from 1935 to 1975.

Though this was little understood by most Americans at the time, the Nation does not adhere to the core tenets of Islamic theology. Moreover, one can argue that its propagated ideology is actually incongruent and abhorrent to true mainstream Islam. The core belief of the organization and its followers was that its founder came in person as God, and at various times the Nation has also argued that 85 percent of the population are easily manipulated ‘deaf, dumb and blind’ sheep, or that African-Americans are superior to other races. These beliefs became more contentious when one of its most distinguished members, the late Malcolm X , who became a member while in prison, departed in 1964 after friction between him and Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X became a Sunni Muslim after making a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca and began to speak out against the leadership – until in early 1965 Malcolm X was assassinated whilst giving a speech in New York.

Malcolm X has been widely acknowledged as the person who introduced Ali to the group. Ali joined the Nation of Islam in 1964, and was seen at Muslim rallies a few years before he publicly proclaimed his allegiance. Despite Malcolm X playing a pivotal role in the recruitment of Ali, the latter claimed that no one pressured him to become a Muslim; that he did it on his own initiative. It’s easy to argue that the Nation exploited Ali, using him as a platform to publicize their message and extracting huge amounts of money from him – but Ali denied it for much of his life.

The Vietnam War, which occurred from November 1955 to April 1975, was another key turning point in Ali’s life. The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam, as part of a wider strategy of containing what was seen as a communist threat. However, the end results would be devastating for America’s national psyche, as well as for the country of Vietnam and a generation of soldiers, and the war quickly lost favor. The anti-war movement gained national prominence in 1965, peaking three years later, and remained in effect throughout the duration of the conflict. It attracted the support of college campus students, people from middle-class suburbs and even some government institutions.

Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces at the height of the conflict, in 1967. He rationalized that since he – and black African-Americans – had been denied civil rights in America, he wasn’t prepared to venture out to another country to fight against people who’d never done him any harm. He paid a hefty price for his stance, being suspended from fighting for three years during the prime of his career. But his firm stance against the war would later make him a hero.

Both before and after the war, however, Ali captured attention and imaginations with not just his speed and flair, or his lip, but with his heart. As the man himself famously once said, “Champions aren’t made in the gym. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream and a vision.” These weren’t empty words – Ali would go on to back them up in his legendary fights the Rumble in the Jungle and Thrilla in Manila, considered to be some of the greatest fights of the century.

The final part of Ali’s life, of course, had its own tragedy, but also its own triumphs. Ali, the most loquacious of athletes, could hardly speak in his final two decades on this earth, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984 and continuing to suffer from it even as he entertained and encouraged others for the rest of his life. Parkinson’s stole much from this once mightiest of men, who captivated everyone’s attention at press conferences and on TV. He brought streets and airports to a standstill with his extrovert personality, but he ultimately stood up against it, raising awareness of – and funds to fight – the disease worldwide. And so his legacy lives on. Long after he hung up his gloves, according to the Associated Press, in 1993 Ali was tied with the baseball legend Babe Ruth as the most recognizable athletes, out of 800 dead or alive, in America. Ali has signed more autographs than any other athlete ever, living or dead. Most celebrities reach a point where they start to fade into obscurity, particularly once they are no longer in the public eye, but Ali continues to endure. Athletes may be remembered in their sports, but very few are remembered for changing the world. Muhammad Ali’s story, without doubt, is an epic one encapsulating all the facets – one of bravery, courage, abundance, castigation and overcoming obstacles with an indomitable will. He touched millions of lives on the way, thousands in person, dozens as a supporter, father or friend.

ONE

FAMILY

Ali’s family – the support they gave him, the lessons they taught him and even the ways they couldn’t help him – had a huge impact on his career. Despite being married four times (to Sonji Roi, Belinda Boyd, Veronica Porche and Yolanda Williams – commonly known as Lonnie) and having his fair share of domestic problems, Ali was a staunch family man. He had nine children: Maryum; Rasheda; Jamillah; Hana; Laila; Khaliah; Miya; and Muhammad Jr. Laila is probably the most prominent of all, after forging a career in boxing with great success. Two of his daughters, Khaliah and Miya, were born out of wedlock, and Assad Amin was an adopted son. Unfortunately, Ali didn’t get to spend as much time as many parents do with his children when they were growing up. Nonetheless, he was a good father and loved all his children.

Ali was first married in 1964 to Sonji, a marriage which lasted a mere seventeen months. Belinda and Ali married in 1967. Belinda was still a teenager when Ali first saw her, a junior at the University of Islam. The couple never went out; Ali went to dinner with his bride-to-be’s family in attendance, and their marriage was arranged by her Muslim parents after Ali asked for her hand. After many years of a marriage which had its ups and downs they filed for divorce in late 1976. In the summer of 1977, he married Veronica Porche, who he had first met in 1974. This marriage also lasted nine years. Soon after his divorce from Veronica, he tied the knot with Lonnie in 1986, a marriage which lasted until his death thirty years later. According to his third wife Veronica, Ali preferred a wife who was the domestic type, someone who would be happy staying at home. He was also adamant that his wives adhere to the Islamic principles, something that Sonji in particular had a very hard time embracing and a key cause of the rift between them.

Though Ali’s family tree has its tangles, he endeavored to maintain good relationships with all his children, and with their mothers. Like any good parent, Ali cherished the time he did spend with his children, and sought to make up for his hours on the road or in other cities by showering them with affection when he saw them.

From the intimate accounts of family members, who probably know the man behind the public persona better than anyone else, surfaces the true image behind the legend. Ali was known for his boastfulness and outspoken personality, but behind the facade and frolics he showed the opposite personality behind closed doors, a side of him invisible to most outsiders. In private, Ali was a quiet man, far from the image he portrayed to promote his fights in front of flashing cameras and press-men. The contrast between the two sides of his personality was profound.

For most of us, family is an integral part of our lives. We seek comfort, security and a sense of joy from the few people that know us best. Many people pursue life with the ultimate aim of excelling in endeavors, which they, subconsciously or otherwise, feel will give them happiness, but most of us ultimately grow to understand true contentment is derived from having a loving and supporting family. In his later years, Ali grew to appreciate this, becoming a family man who matured as he came to appreciate the true teachings of his religion.

Like any public figure or celebrity, positive and negative stories have been written in the past relating to Ali’s personal history. The media, more often than not, has a penchant for the most controversial parts of public figures’ lives. Certainly he made mistakes over the course of his four marriages, as we all do – but as Ali became a much more devoted Muslim, his knowledge and practice of Islamic principles in his life strengthened, and his devotion to his family grew.

Over the following pages you’ll find first-hand recollections from Ali’s children, some of whom have barely spoken about their father in public before. Most people are aware of the fact Ali has daughters, for instance, but many are oblivious of the fact that he has a son. It’s very rare to see most of Ali’s children in the spotlight. Ali’s son, who has hardly been in the media spotlight for much of his life, shares his memories, and his daughters offer a personal glimpse of the man who is loved by so many. Our family know us as we truly are – not by the performance we put on for the world.

MUHAMMAD ALI JUNIOR

Muhammad Ali Jr. was born to Ali’s second wife Belinda. With a personality very unlike his famous father’s, Ali’s only biological son has kept a very low profile, never attempting to capitalize on his fame. As a result, he comes across as a down to earth person living a normal life.

Q: Your father was perceived as a brash and boastful person. How would you define your father’s personality?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: He was very open and we talked about anything actually. We had like a brother-to- brother relationship. His personality is unlike anybody else’s. I’ve never met anybody who had a better personality than my father. My father was actually doing that for publicity, whatever he was doing in the ring. But my father was not quiet; he was outspoken. He’s just an all-round outgoing person. When it comes to other people, he didn’t mind helping. I remember one time when we were living in California, he had actually moved a family in the house with him to get them off the street and gave them clothes and fed them. He had a remarkable personality.

Q: When you were growing up, did your father visit you in school like all the other kids’ parents did?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: He would come visit us all the time at home and at my grandmother’s house. He did come to school once during the graduation. I mean, if you think about what it means to me to be Muhammad Ali’s son, I was actually happy to see him.

Q: Did your father give you advice as you were growing up?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Oh, yeah. One thing he said to me, which I remember, was: I don’t care what people call you. I don’t care what people think of you – everybody is equal under the eyes of God. He said I care about people being as human and not what color they are. He said look at people and respect them as human beings. Actually, let me put it like this way: don’t judge them from their actions and how they look, don’t judge people – period. He said what you need to look for is the content of their character. If they’ve got a good character and they’re not stuck up, they’re not racists, then they’re good people. If they are then just leave them alone. Then you’ll be alright. He said watch what you say and watch what you do and respect your elders. And he taught me a lot about chivalry – stop calling people by the names of animals. He gave me good advice.

Q: How hard was it for your father to overcome obstacles in the 1960s when blacks endured many hardships?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Number one, he was black. Number two, for not having any liable rights at all. Number three, for becoming a Muslim and be slandered for it. Number four, his boxing, decision to not go to war, his title was taken off him. Everybody’s entitled to freedom of religion. And another thing he taught me, he said, “I don’t care if it’s a Jew, Christian or a Muslim in the same room, as long as they believe in God.”

Q: Your father went to hajj in Mecca and later became zealously committed to his religion. Did he relate any stories to you how he felt about the experience?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Oh, yeah. He actually felt sorry for a lot of things that he had said, such as, “White man’s a devil.” He really felt sorry because the fact that when he went to hajj, he saw black Muslims, purple Muslims, white Muslims, yellow Muslims – all different types of race of Muslims. So, he was really sorry for saying what he had said a long time ago – white man’s a devil and this is a white man’s world. He was sorry for saying it. Because he realized that there are other Muslims as well as blacks.

Q: He enjoyed joking around a lot.

Muhammad Ali Jr.: He could’ve been a comedian.

Q: Did you have social family reunions?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: We used to go for ice cream, pies, cakes, etc. We just had a good time. We didn’t have too many barbeques. We always had family gatherings such as Thanksgiving dinners. For Christmas we had another Thanksgiving dinner, so it was like twice a year of Thanksgiving.

Q: In your opinion what was your father’s biggest and most monumental achievement?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Regardless no matter what the situation maybe, no matter what the cost, no matter what the circumstances. I mean, my father believed wholeheartedly in Islam. He was ready to die for it. He said, “I’m not going to denounce my religion Islam. If I have to face gunfire, I will.”

Q: In the boxing world what was his greatest achievement?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Well, I’m going to put it like this because my father always told me, he said, “Boxing was just a stage for something greater.” That’s the way he put it to me. That wasn’t his actual thing; it was something greater than boxing. He was trying to liberate his people, even himself. I was at the park in New York and one historian came up to me. And she told me that Martin Luther King was in this park at one time with his wife. And she [historian] said that Martin Luther King got stoned in this park. They were throwing stones at him. It was the non-violent rally which he had. It was unfair. It was just a non-violent get-together for the Muslims. I said, “Man, this is a disaster.” So, it wasn’t really about boxing, it was just about liberation of black people to be free and to have rights like everybody else.

Q: How do you feel things have changed now, was it not for the 1960s civil rights movement do you think America would not have evolved profoundly?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Things have changed in the means of: you don’t have to go to war if you don’t want to. Because of your beliefs, your background, your religion, your upbringing, you don’t have to go to war. I mean, really the thing about war is to kill, kill, kill. In Islam it’s peace. So a lot of Muslims don’t have to go to war because it’s against our religion to kill.

Q: Your father got on with everybody, from the old to the young kids, is it true that he would often let strangers into his house?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Like I said before, when we were growing up he took in his home a family, clothed them, fed them and made sure they had a roof over their heads. I mean, he was just an all-round caring person. He had no bad heart at all.

Q: Which people were close to your father during his career? Herbert Muhammad was his manager and Angelo Dundee was his coach.

Muhammad Ali Jr.: There were a lot of people around my father that didn’t do my father any good. Herbert Muhammad was one of them. There’s a long list of people but I don’t want to get into all that.

Q: What path did your father pursue after hanging up the gloves?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Helping people, doing things for charities, feeding the homeless, feeding the hungry. It was stuff like that he got involved in because it made him feel good. He said I’m doing something good because Allah wants me to. This is what Allah sent me over here for, to help people. So the best way I can help people is by feeding and clothing them, make sure they have homes. It was his way of giving back to God – giving back to Allah.

Q: Your father wasn’t motivated by money, he gave a lot away. Fame didn’t get to his head, but a lot of celebrities let fame get to their heads.

Muhammad Ali Jr.: He gave all he made away. My father was grounded in Islam and Islam humbled him. He wasn’t a big-headed person in the first place.

Q: Did you go to any events?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: The last one I went to was to collect an award for my father who couldn’t make it. So that’s all I’ve done.

Q: Your favorite boxing fight?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: I have one favorite fight and it didn’t happen in the ring – it happened in the courtroom. He stood up for his beliefs in Islam by not going to war and Allah blessed him with his title match.

Q: When your father became a Sunni Muslim it opened his eyes, he prayed five times a day.

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Oh, yes. He couldn’t really move around too much in his later years and do his prayers, but he was still devoted to Islam. He didn’t stop devoting to Islam until the day he passed away.

Q: Is there anything that the people don’t know about your father or are unaware of?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Well, a lot of fans don’t know he has a son. They know he has daughters. A lot of fans think Tatyana Ali is my sister, but she’s not.

Q: Did your father let you choose your own path in life?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: My father let me be my own man. But I was actually sheltered my whole life because of whom my father was, who I am to my father, because we had family threats on our lives. So they sheltered me. Actually, it was my mother’s parents. I was raised by my mother’s parents. I was raised by my grandparents. They actually sheltered me and it really hindered me instead of helping me because I wasn’t able to go out there. I wasn’t able to get my own, this and the other. It really put a dent on my whole life. But everything’s OK and it’s not a total loss.

Q: What goes through your mind when you look back watching your father on TV?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: I mean, it seems like a dream to me, to be honest with you. But I just look at him as daddy. He’s my daddy. I love him and he’s my father. That’s how I see him. I don’t see him as the Greatest of All Time. I don’t see him as the great humanitarian. I see him as daddy.

Q: When you were growing up did you get to spend much time with your father?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: When I was little I spent more time with my father than I did when I was older because he used to come and visit us. But since he was sick, he wanted to come visit me but his wife didn’t bring him around. Actually, when he came to visit us he’d give us money and we wouldn’t have to ask for it. We’d take summer vacations to California, Deer Lake, Pennsylvania; just go to a lot of places. He used to travel a lot. We’d go to Kentucky to visit his parents – my grandparents. I mean, there were a lot of things we used to do. And I found out – it took me thirty-eight years to find out – I had certain cousins that I never knew I had.

Q: How did you take it when you found out your father had Parkinson’s?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Like anyone else takes it. I mean, I look at it like this: if it’s going to happen then it will. That’s how life is. Whatever happens is because of Allah’s will. It really doesn’t bother me too much. Everybody’s going to pass away some time, you can’t live forever.

Q: Your father wasn’t a big spender but he liked cars. What other things did he have a passion for?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: He used to like music a lot. He used to like the old-school music. He was around all those (music) people back then. Everybody knew everybody. I’ve got to tell you another thing. My mother used to babysit Michael Jackson and her karate instructor was Jim Kelly [Enter the Dragon co-star].

Q: Interesting. Your father never met Bruce Lee, who died in 1973. A lot of people compare your father to Bruce Lee. What’s your opinion on Bruce Lee?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: He’s like the Muhammad Ali of karate [martial arts]. I’m going to put it like this: I think it would’ve been a good fight between my father and Bruce Lee. Now, my father and Mike Tyson, my father would’ve kicked his butt. Everybody says Mike Tyson would’ve kicked your father’s butt. I said no. Mike Tyson can’t go the distance. He couldn’t go fifteen rounds. He’s not a boxer; he’s a street fighter. He’s a knockout artist. He can never hold up to my father! Sonny Liston was like a Mike Tyson, an older version of Mike Tyson. He would never be able to beat him. Bruce Lee, on the other hand, that would have been a good fight. They were both young, they were both agile and both took it to the limit with their training. They both were the best at what they did.

Q: Your father is idolized around the globe, just how much of an impact has he had on the world?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: Let me put it this way: if my father was a bomb, he’d be like the Hiroshima bomb. That’s how much impact he had on a lot of people.

Q: He seems to have influenced people from a diverse background.

Muhammad Ali Jr.: He influenced Michael Jackson and he influenced a lot of people. He would meet anybody, he didn’t care who it was. People gave him energy. The love from the people gave him the love from his heart. He loved being around people and he’s a people person. He would never say no to anybody.

Q: What’s the most fascinating or compelling moment you witnessed of your father on TV?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: The most interesting thing I’ve seen was when he lit the torch at the Olympics. I heard there was going to be a guest, a pious person, who would be lighting the torch. And when they said this, the first thing that came to my mind was my father. And sure enough it was my father doing it. I didn’t know who was going to do it, but I looked at it and I thought it’s got to be my father. He’s a living legend, why wouldn’t he light the torch?

Q: Did you have any icons when you were growing up or do you idolize anyone?

Muhammad Ali Jr.: I didn’t really have any idols because I don’t believe in idols; I was born a Muslim. I’m going to put it like this: the only one that caught my eye, as far as my father’s like, the only one I really like who held up to my father is Hulk Hogan. I don’t know why I geared towards wrestling, but I’ve just grown to love wrestling. I’ve been watching wrestling since the WWF. Hulk Hogan, Iron Sheikh, Bret Hart. I still watch WWE. I think it was a good thing [Ali-Inoki fight]. After I saw my father go to the WWF [special guest referee appearance] I always wanted to go. I used to wrestle in my high school.

RASHEDA ALI

Rasheda Ali and her twin sister Jamillah were born to Ali’s second wife Belinda, two years after their elder sister Maryum and two years before Muhammad Ali Jr. She is a speaker who has worked tirelessly to raise global awareness of Parkinson’s disease and its treatments, a published author and a former talk show host. Here, she reflects on how her relationship with her father changed over the course of their lives together.

Q: Would you say that your father was born to box, was it in his blood?

Rasheda Ali: Yes. I feel that he definitely was a natural in his boxing ability. He started at age twelve. And he immediately took on the challenges that adult males would take on. He boxed for nearly thirty years, which is very unusual nowadays. So I do think he was a natural talent and born to box.

Q: It’s no secret your father had an extrovert personality. How would you describe his personality from a personal perspective?

Rasheda Ali: Well, I think as a boxer my dad was a different person in the ring than he was outside of the ring. As he boxed, he challenged a lot of his opponents. I think a lot of the times he was very brash. He was very confident and he was very sure of himself, cocky and funny – all those things. But in real life he was still confident and very sure of himself. But he wasn’t as cocky in real life, behind closed doors, he’s very humble. And he didn’t make a big fuss about who he was in his real life. A lot of that was show – he had to sell tickets and he had to get people come and see him box. So, naturally, he was more of an actor portraying the role. It was very interesting for reporters to film him. I think that’s why he was very brash and overwhelming in his personality, it was interesting for people to watch. It was part of his makeup and it was a part of his role as a boxer. He was a very interesting character and I think he did a very good job of it.

Q: The media paints a picture of a celebrity in the public eye, but is there anything the media missed as far as Muhammad Ali the real person behind closed doors?

Rasheda Ali: You know, I don’t think so. I think my dad, when he was out in the public as a humanitarian, what you see is what you got. People have indicated that when they’ve met my dad they found him to be very warming, sincere and a sweet person. He was like that all the time, that’s part of his personality, that’s who he is. So, no. I think when the media showed my dad promoting Parkinson’s and helping people through his Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center, trying to educate children at the center in Louisville, that’s his personality, that’s who he is.

Q: Rasheda, can you relate to me any intriguing stories pertaining to hanging out with your dad when you were growing up?

Rasheda Ali: Where do I start? He was so fun to be with. My dad was really one of a kind, honestly. I’ve had the honor of meeting so many wonderful people in my life, and I don’t think any of them stand up to my dad. I think he’s just definitely one of those few human beings sent on earth who was sincere. Off the top of my head, I do recall an incident with my dad. We were all hanging out one day, because we visited him every summer when we were kids, and I think we were driving around in California. My dad ran across to a family. I think they had lost their home so they didn’t have a place to stay. My dad brought them home with him and he fed them and he gave them money. It was just really amazing. We were all frightened, of course, because we were thinking, Oh, you don’t know these people. But my dad didn’t have the fear in the world. This poor family needed a shelter and everything my dad had done for them was just wonderful to see. That’s a perfect example of something my dad would do. And really for me it kind of set the stage as one of my heroes for that reason. That’s part of his loving and giving self.

Q: Did you have family gatherings where all your sisters got together with your dad?

Rasheda Ali: It’s unfortunate because we all live all over the place, and my dad has been married four times. We all live in different states. I have sisters in Philadelphia and California. I grew up in Chicago. We’re all over the place so it was very, very rare. Then when we were older and we had our own families, it was even more difficult because our schedules didn’t allow us to all be in one place at once. I will say when my dad opened up his museum in Louisville – which was back in 2005 – I remember all of us were together. Even then we were missing a sibling. But even at that event at the opening of my dad’s museum we still had somebody missing. So it was very difficult for all of us to get together, so we had to make a great effort to come up visit one another. It was a challenge on all of us because we have our own families and we have our own jobs and lives. But we’d make an effort to try to make time to see my dad in later years because it’s important.

Q: As a father, did he ever give you any specific advice?

Rasheda Ali: Sure. My dad did give me a lot of advice and I used to go to him for advice, too. Because he set some really good examples of how he...I think he has something which is really strong about him and his attitude is incredible: how he never complained and he just enjoyed his life. He gave me lots of advice. I’m trying to think of one that stands out. Of course, I was in the television industry, as you know this is very competitive, it’s cut-throat, it’s tough.

And my dad gave me advice about being in that industry. He told me if you like it then go for it. And I think that’s what my dad did his whole life. He did what he really enjoyed doing. He never really settled for a career that he never liked. And I think my dad was blessed in that. He was gifted and he pursued it. But he did tell me if you enjoy it and it makes you happy, go for it. I think that’s really advice that we should all take – we should all be happy in what we’re doing and everything else will follow. So I thought it was pretty good advice.

Q: Obviously, he joined the Nation of Islam but then became a Sunni Muslim and performed Pilgrimage. Did he touch on this subject with you and your sisters?

Rasheda Ali: I think he lived by example. I think at the time when he first joined the Islamic faith, it was an organization which was not orthodox. Obviously, it was more of a sect. You know, it says in the Quran you’re not supposed to break up the sects. I think that was one of the sects of the faith, and I think it was a little distorted. Of course, it wasn’t really true Islam and my dad found that out, of course, when he visited Mecca. And he tried to see real Islam, and real Islam is all about being together. There are all different races in the religion; it’s not just African-Americans.

So, I think he was able to see real Islam when he went to Mecca and hajj, which I think opened his eyes. I think it was really wonderful how he embraced the religion. And he spoke to people about that because a lot of people have a lot of misconceptions. People really don’t realize there are billions of Muslims in the world and they’re from different races, different cultures, different nationalities and different skin colors. I think that’s very important that he was able to come out at the forefront as a very famous American who happened to be a Muslim and share the true beliefs of Islam. It’s about love, harmony and peace and I think my dad was able to do that through example how he lived his life.

Q: When your father retired what path did his life take?

Rasheda Ali: After he retired from boxing, he did dedicate a large percentage of his time to helping fight racism and helping children with obesity issues. He really spent a majority of his time helping other charities and things like that and, of course, Parkinson’s came along and he was diagnosed. His main focus was to create a Parkinson’s Center to help people who have Parkinson’s, and help them get proper diagnoses and programs to help them improve quality of life for families dealing with Parkinson’s.

So he really went out and he became more or less a world ambassador of peace. He traveled all over the globe helping certain organizations in their causes. So he became from a boxer to an instant humanitarian. I think that’s how he spent most of his time: helping organizations and their causes. I think, like I said, he transformed from this incredible boxer, from his incredible skills into a very warm, really peaceful human being. And my dad really did enjoy his life. He had a lot of fun and he was a giving person and he never stopped. That’s part of his makeup and he enjoyed it, he really did.

HANA ALI

Hana Ali is the youngest of Ali’s children, born to his third wife, Veronica Porche, just before they married. When her father and mother moved to Los Angeles in 1979 Ali’s boxing career was coming to an end, and as a result Ali spent more time with Hana and his other young children, strengthening the bond between them. Later, Hana would move to live with her father in Michigan in 2001 and stayed for just under six years, until the two were almost inseparable.

Q: Hana, when you were living in Los Angeles with your father, can you divulge any stories pertaining to celebrities visiting your home to see your dad?

Hana Ali: My dad didn’t sit around talking about celebrities when he was with family. He wasn’t the kind of person who would tell us stories about celebrities. I was too young to understand. The only one I did was Michael Jackson. When my dad first met Clint Eastwood they were on the same TV talk show together in 1969. And in the greenroom he said to him, “Clint, Clint, do me a favor. Walk across the room and turn around real fast and draw your gun and say, ‘You’ve got four days to get out of town.’” He did it for him. It was funny. My father didn’t consciously try to separate his professional work from family or social life. He didn’t sit down and think he needs to keep it separate, it just wasn’t important for him in that regard to talk to us about celebrities. He talked about spiritual enlightenment instead.

Travolta would come over to our house a lot and he would also go to my dad’s training camp in Deer Lake. At the time, my sister Laila and I didn’t really understand who John Travolta was because we were way too young. We hadn’t watched his movies such as Saturday Night Fever. My dad would say to me, “Hey, Hana, do you know who this is? He’s a big movie star. He’s a greater dancer!” John would dance at the house. My father would say, “Dance, John!” John would dance and my father would egg him on saying, “Come on, John, that’s right. Come here, Veronica. Go, John, dance!” He got a kick out of that. He would show my father how to dance. John would tease my dad saying, “Man, you have two left feet.” Dad would say, “I only dance in the ring.” Everybody thought it was strange that my father couldn’t dance because he was so graceful and elegant in the ring. He had no rhythm for it outside the ring, though. Instead, he liked others dancing.

Hollywood actor Kris Kristofferson’s daughter would come with her father and we would play. And an actor that played in films, he had his daughter – I can’t remember the names now – come too. I’d take her shoes off and we would play. She was about five years older than me. I remember she had high heels little girls wear and I would try wearing them and never take them off and go to the mirror to check because I loved those shoes so much. Hollywood directors sometimes had kids they’d bring over.

Q: Your father, of course, became a world figure who seemed to endear himself to the political fraternity?

Hana Ali: My father was such a world figure that they admired and respected him. He was able to open up the doors to communication for America when they couldn’t get things done. Anywhere he went he could make it easier for the American government. Jimmy Carter sometimes was relying on my father. OK, not relying but would call my father who would offer help. Jimmy Carter could make decisions from information presented to him. Sometimes things turned out good, while other times things didn’t turn out too good. It made him conscious of doing things because being a famous world figure his mere presence could condone something that was going on. So he was careful of where he went and what he did. He didn’t want to give the wrong impression of being somewhere by supporting a nation where injustice was happening to people.

Q: What made your father different to all the other famous faces, and continues to do so?

Hana Ali: Everything was looked upon from a spiritual standpoint. He was so humble considering he was this mammoth figure. He never lost that humility. He would call random strangers on Christmas Day to wish them a happy Christmas. A lot of celebrities want to get famous, have all that money and accolades but they’re not people person. But my dad was. My father enjoyed being with normal people; he didn’t try to hide. He would walk in alley ways, ghettos and mingle. He gave access. Even regular everyday people don’t do that. It was easier for a homeless man to see him than the president. He’d make an appointment with a president but a homeless man could walk right up to our house and my father would tell him to come inside.

Q: What can you tell me about behind the scenes personal family get-togethers with your dad at his home?

Hana Ali: The birthday that comes to mind, the more prominent one, was his last birthday six months before he passed away. It was such a blessing because eight of his nine children were there, and his grandchildren were there. He got to do huge magic tricks. He regaled us with his tricks all through our childhood. Even though all my father’s kids stick to the birthdays over the years, we never really got all together because of our responsibilities such as jobs and kids. However, that night we all came together after quite some time in Scottsdale. Lonnie hired a magician so he did a show. We were all sitting around clapping. My father tucked into his favorite candy bars and butter fingers. His eyes were open wide and he looked happy. So the year before I spent it with his kids also.

Q: Lastly, is there anything that is often misunderstood about your dad?

Hana Ali: He didn’t have bodyguards. The bodyguards that you read about were not in the form of stopping people from meeting him. He had these naturally in case something happened because some places there were big crowds such as at the fights to protect the wife. He never used them for himself. He never had a bodyguard in the traditional sense. In his later years he never kept them around.

MARYUM ALI

Born and raised in Chicago, Maryum Ali – better known as ‘May May’ – is the eldest of Muhammad Ali’s children. She has appeared in several documentaries produced charting the life and career of her famous father, and in 2016 went undercover as an inmate in an Indiana jail for A&E documentary 60 Days In. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles and is a public speaker as well as working in youth development.

Q: Can you share some memories when you and your siblings used to visit your dad at his Los Angeles mansion in the early 1980s?

Maryum Ali: My father was a practical joker. He lived in a big house so it had long dark hallways. He loved scaring us. He got a kick out of that. He would wait in the dark hallways and we would walk down and he’d scare us. He’d just laugh. He loved playing practical jokes and he was a very fun-loving person. He liked to play with his kids a lot. A lot of parents don’t do that. So, that’s some fun stuff he’d do. He would laugh so hard then we’d all start laughing with him. You see, my father was a regular person. People make him like he’s so different. What does any family do? You go eat out together, go events together. If he had events he’d take us with him. We hung out and watched TV at the house. We went swimming in the back yard swimming pool. We did all the regular common day stuff that a family would do. People are so much idol worshipers, celebrity worshipers and they always think he’s something different, but he was just a regular person. He’d do whatever anybody would do from going to get ice cream to praying together.

Q: What is one of the most thought-provoking conversations you ever had with your dad?

Maryum Ali: Thought-provoking conversation would be how we talked about God a lot. You don’t realize how serious he was about that. He wanted his kids to be God-conscious. He wanted us to know that our real purpose is to be in eternal heaven, paradise – all Muslims believe in. He would always talk to us about how this life was a testing ground. That would be the most thought-provoking thing. Materialistic things, all the fame, money, that’s just nothing, he told us. Are you going to help people with it? So, everything you’re doing in this world should be to please God. And it was those lessons of him reiterating the importance of our true purpose on earth that leads to a peaceful happy person. That’s the stuff you should be grounded in. He taught us those kinds of lessons and he said, “Always value your religion, your faith and never believe that you’re better because you’re Ali’s daughter.” He said to us, “Your name Ali doesn’t mean anything. How you treat people means something. Not your last name, not my boxing career.” So, that’s the most important thing he tried to teach his kids.

Q: In terms of guiding you and your siblings as far as career or education is concerned, did he gravitate toward anything particular?

Maryum Ali: No, he didn’t gravitate toward anything like that. He wanted us to do what we wanted to do. He felt whatever we thought was our career purpose then we should follow it. He didn’t say you should be a doctor, or you should be this. He didn’t believe in doing that. No one had told him what to do. Everybody has a skill or talent. So it’s up to you to find that. He didn’t try to guide us to anything, or press us. He did want us to get an education and finish college. So that was important. He wanted us to do that. He did want us to be educated and take care of ourselves, but he never tried to force us into any career. That was for us to decide on our own.

Q: Can you talk about any celebrities visiting your dad when you were present?

Maryum Ali: Lots of celebrities would come to his house in LA. He was such a practical joker we sometimes didn’t believe what he said to us. Once he walked up the stairs at the LA home and he said to me Clint Eastwood is downstairs. I didn’t believe him, I