Muhammad Ali set for farewell visit to UK
Jul 3 2009
BOXING legend Muhammad Ali will visit Britain next month to bid his fans a final farewell.
Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was told by doctors he will soon not be well enough to fly.
He will make appearances at dinners held in his honour in London, Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester, which will raise money for charity.
Ali, 67, said: "The UK is very close to my heart," adding that he wanted to "say goodbye in person to such a wonderful country and to all my friends and fans here".
The former world heavyweight champion, who will meet up with PR man Max Clifford, will also visit Ricky Hatton's gym in Manchester.
It will be Ali's first UK visit since 1999. He came to Britain in 1963 and 1966 to fight Henry Cooper.
Sad to see the Ali of today I was there for both of those fights in 1963 & 66 They still rate higher to me than England winning the world cup but I have always been a bigger boxing fan than football.I met Casius (as he then was )in 1963 at the TA centre in White City where he was training what a fine athelete he was floating around the ring keeping up a constant conversation with us fans who could have only been about 20/30 of us what a difference the next time he came to Britain.
The last time I saw him fight live was against Brian London at earls court it was a walk over as London was beaten before the sound of the first bell had died away ok it went three rounds but Ali played with him just to give us fans something for our money
telboy66 wrote:Sad to see the Ali of today I was there for both of those fights in 1963 & 66 They still rate higher to me than England winning the world cup but I have always been a bigger boxing fan than football.I met Casius (as he then was )in 1963 at the TA centre in White City where he was training what a fine athelete he was floating around the ring keeping up a constant conversation with us fans who could have only been about 20/30 of us what a difference the next time he came to Britain.
The last time I saw him fight live was against Brian London at earls court it was a walk over as London was beaten before the sound of the first bell had died away ok it went three rounds but Ali played with him just to give us fans something for our money
Nice post. Ali demanded a big ring for the rematch - and got it.
Putting all patriotic fervour aside I think Ali would have beaten Cooper even if they had fought in a phone booth in those days it was not a question of if he would win but how. He was to me the second most gifted boxer next to SRR that I have seen
telboy66 wrote:Putting all patriotic fervour aside I think Ali would have beaten Cooper even if they had fought in a phone booth in those days it was not a question of if he would win but how. He was to me the second most gifted boxer next to SRR that I have seen
No arguments, here. Can you imagine how good Ali would have been in 1969? We never saw his true peak.
No question if he had not lost those three years to Uncle Sam he would have eclipsed Rockys unbeaten record.
There was not a heavyweight in the world at that time who could have got anywhere near him
Chambers2 wrote:Ali's the Greatest sportsman ever IMO
Without question Ali is the greatest sports figure ever, he put sports on the map, made sports important, made people take notice of sports! Not just the average sports fan, but others aswell!
Muhammad must be visiting London, surely?
Hearing that he will soon not be well enough to fly is tragic! That does not bode well at all.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Ali in the flesh. It would be a small sacrifice to be in the presence of such an icon and in my opinion, most importantly, one of the greatest boxers of all time.
Who said I had to be "in the flesh" as well? Even so it's not like we have to get it on or something Don't know why you brought that up, maybe its on your mind to much?
Just been checking out Mamouth Events who are organizing the Ali visit & the prices at my nearest (Wembley) are way out of my league, Cheapest tickets start at £400 up to VIP at 1,500 it looks like I will just have remember him as he was which is no bad deal
telboy66 wrote:Just been checking out Mamouth Events who are organizing the Ali visit & the prices at my nearest (Wembley) are way out of my league, Cheapest tickets start at £400 up to VIP at 1,500 it looks like I will just have remember him as he was which is no bad deal
I have wonderful memories of him fighting Liston,Frazier,Norton,Forman etc, etc. The word legend is used far too much to describe people with exceptional abilities but in ALIs case it is totally appropriate, he is a legend.
WildWaylon wrote:I have wonderful memories of him fighting Liston,Frazier,Norton,Forman etc, etc. The word legend is used far too much to describe people with exceptional abilities but in ALIs case it is totally appropriate, he is a legend.
WildWaylon wrote:I have wonderful memories of him fighting Liston,Frazier,Norton,Forman etc, etc. The word legend is used far too much to describe people with exceptional abilities but in ALIs case it is totally appropriate, he is a legend.
It would be a small sacrifice to be in the presence of such an icon and in my opinion, most importantly, one of the greatest boxers of all time.