Legend, icon or comet if anyone over the last several decades deserved any name he was Muhammad Ali. He is no more. He lost his battle with eventual destiny.
“Dancing like a Butterfly, Stinging like a Bee” was his special and very special skill. He made heavy weight boxing an art.
How many people of the world take notice of different category of boxing? But one Mohammad Ali made heavy weight boxing a house hold art in his time. People of all ages, all religion and all sexes admired and adored it. We grew up under his charisma, enjoyed everything he did as a very competitive sports personality. He will leave behind a legacy which will make immortal till the time there is life in this planet.
As an young sports writer it was a dream come true when late Ataul Haque Mallick Bhai editor In Charge Krirajagat/ Sportworld, the bilingual sports magazine of National Sports Control Board asked me to take his interview when he came to meet the then Army Chief and Chairman NSCB in his office.
I had 15 minutes with him as a very special person entrusted with such a task.
He was magnanimous. He was awesome. He told me what you will write. You rather talk with my lady love Veronica. But he went on “A for Ali, B for boxing.
Ali comes before boxing as A comes before B. He was doing shadow boxing all the time while talking with me. I could ask him “How you could make boxing an art? He said boxing is not only an art, it is art, science what not. What message you want to give to your millions of adoring fans in Bangladesh. His reply was “I heard you love your language and your beautiful country; I heard million people laid down lives for your country. My heart for those who made supreme sacrifice. Live up to their ideals.”
Great Ali is no more. He was stripped off his title refusing to fight for US Army in Vietnam. He embraced Islam.
He won back his title and retained it till he hang up his gloves. He was suffering from Parkinson’s for a long time. His bout against Sony Liston, Foreman, comic encounter against Japanese Sumo wrestler Enoki are flashing back again and again in my memory. Cannot imagine our childhood idol is no more. His very articulate words are ringing in my ears. The roaring sounds of “Aalee , Aaleey keeps ringing in my ears .”
Many boxers have come before Ali, many has come after him. How many are remembered? How many boxing events attract worldwide attention? Ali was one and unique. A person of a millennium. He was more than a legend, may be a comet. Which when goes, goes for ever.
Rest in peace great Mohammad Ali. World will remember you forever.
BDST: 1157 HRS, June 4, 2016
AKA
