Childhood Idol - Muhammad Ali

[Dennis]

Growing up Ali was one of my heroes. He was an amazing boxer and yet he transcended the sport. I even was able to see him live in exhibition bouts in Pennsylvania in the mid to late 70's (somewhere around 76-78). He was getting older, but he was still the world champ. He just toyed with the other boxers.

Now my childhood idol is at the inaugeration. He has been ravaged by Parkinson's and yet he is still idolized by so many. The new president stated that one of his most prized possessions is a pair of boxing gloves signed by Ali. That says a lot about Ali.

We have had some other spectacularly talented boxers, but none have changed the world or the sport like Ali. DeLaHoya is in a position to really change the sport. His own career is near the end (if not past it) and he can take the reigns of his promotional company and do some great things for the sport of boxing. He shouldn't just focus on the megafights. We need to get back to having more local gyms, local shows and regularly televised shows on at times that kids can see them. I remember watching boxing on Saturday afternoons for years while growing up. We really could use something like that again. Not just to lay it all on Oscar as Floyd Jr. could also step up and really change things. Someone needs to take over and become the next figure to really change our sport for the better.

Here is hoping for positive things for boxing in the upcoming years. I will continue to try and do my part at the local level.

[atlanta coach]

I agree Dennis.. I dont think theres any athlete in any sport that can compare to Ali.. What he did in and out of the ring.....

[squarering]

Obviously Dennis, you have forgotten about Two Ton Tony Galento. Much more popular than Ali.

[Dennis]

Two ton Tony was popular with people who were a little pudgy and drank a few too many. If Tony could win in the ring, then they felt they could accomplish just about anything.