Krink
– Krink – Krink, rang the telephone of Muhammed Ali. He picked up the receiver and when he acknowledged
the voice of Prof. Betrand Russel calling from UK, Ali was highly elated
because Prof. Russel was name and fame then.
Prof. Russel then told Ali the following:
“Your
efforts in opposing American involvement in Vietnam war is laudable. In the history of humanity there was not a
single war more barbaric than this war.
When a person of your stature
talks, world listens. American public
has listened to your voice of opposing this war and they will support
you. Please carry forward your fight and
I support you” (THE GREATEST).
Finally with the noise Ali made against this war, USA was
forced to withdraw from Vietnam.
However, while opposing USA, poor
Ali was made to suffer, even stripping of his title.
Earlier
Prof. Betrand Russel and his group of intellectuals from all around the globe conducted
Nuremburg type of trial of American
involvement in Vietnam War and came to the conclusion that this war was the
most barbaric.
About
33 years back when Soviet Russia occupied Afghanistan, Ali
was in Bombay at Brabourne Stadium attending a reception where he was also
entertaining the audience. Suddenly an
emissary comes there from US President Carter asking Ali to fly back to USA
because Carter has appointed him to be his emissary in the Muslim World to
explain to the Muslim leaders the necessity of uprooting Russia from
Afghanistan. Carter selected Ali for
this job to cash on the influence of Ali on Muslim World.
Fr. William Mendonca was my
Headmaster at St. Joseph’s High School,
Arpora. He was a great lover of Boxing.
About 70 years back when the then great Boxer Joe Luis visited Bombay, Fr.
William went for his reception, met him and shook hand with him.
Similarly, when Muhammed Ali came to
Bombay about 33 years ago, Fr. William again went to meet him when Ali was attending
the reception. When Ali saw Fr. William rushing to meet him along with others,
Ali shouted at the top of his voice saying “Hey, please make way for the priest
to come to me, see even priests are mad after me”. Then Ali hugged Fr. William
and laughed heartily to the delight of everyone. Then Fr. William shook hand
with Ali and found Ali’s hand like a Rock much harder than that of Joe Luis.
According to my information, the first
Goan to encounter Ali was the once ace Goan footballer Franco Fortunato who represented India at Rome Olympics where
Ali won his Gold Medal. In one evening
in the Olympics Village, while Franco was strolling, he crossed Ali who seeing
Franco alone, called him out saying, “hey guy, what are you doing here alone,
come join me for the dance party”.
Like Ali no other Boxer displayed swift
footedness, this he could do only because he was a very good Ballet dancer.
“Rope – a - dope” was his best technique to wear and tire his opponent and this
technique helped him to win many bouts.
His other advantage was his genius
manager Angelo Dundee who was a master tactician. Once during one fight Ali was
totally exhausted and about to lose the fight. At that moment Dundee noticed
the Lace of Ali’s Glove is become lose. Immediately he brought it to the notice
of the Referee and stopped the fight till some more time was given for Ali to
tie that Lace. This helped Ali to regain his composure to win that fight.
The
most memorable fight of Ali was this: It was the last round during the “Manila
the Thrilla” fight between Ali and Joe Frazier, both were totally exhausted but
Frazier was more. His manager noticed
this and asked Frazier “can you see?”
When the answer was “No”, Ali was so surprised that he collapsed to the
ground with happiness. This was the
greatest fight of Ali. Will we ever again get another Ali? I doubt because such men comes to this planet
only once in centuries. He raised Boxing to the pedestal.
He
was the victim of Apartheid in America inspite of the fact that he won the Gold
Medal for America in Rome Olympics. This treatment annoyed him so much that out
of frustration he finally threw his Gold Medal into the River Ohio when he was
refused entry into the “whites only” Restaurant.
According to one source he was very
much annoyed at the propagators of Christianity in USA for not doing anything
to eradicate Apartheid there and as a mark of protest he surrendered his
Christianity in favour of Islam which annoyed American white supremacy. During
the period of his suspension and stripping of his title, he suffered mental and
financial stress, so much so when he had no money he had to sell even his Radio
Set for 10 $.
Was Muhammad Ali the greatest of all?
Though he defeated all the greats of his time, namely George Foreman, Ken
Norton, Joe Frazier and others yet I still feel he would not defeat Joe Luis
and Rocky Marciano if they had to be in the same era. Muhammad Ali became so
popular because he took so popular decisions so boldly during his time as none
did in the past.
He was very boastful especially of his
talent and beautiful face which remained without a single scar inspite of
receiving millions of blows on his face. His success in and out of the Ring was
his hard work and conviction in his principle that victory will be his. And
surely the VICTORY WAS HIS.
A.Veronica
Fernande.
