Boxing served purpose — Ali

Press, 24 February 1979, Page 6

Boxing served purpose — Ali

PA Wellington Muhammad Ali is getting right out of big-time boxing when he retires. Ali said yesterday that boxing had “served its purpose.” “I’m not going to have time to hang round gyms and punch bags anymore,” he said. “I’m too big for boxing now — I’m going on to bigger things. I’ll be seeing presidents, talking to world leaders.” Ali said that when he retired soon, boxing would be poorer but it would not be the end of great heavyweight contests. “I’m the greatest — I’m the only heavyweight who could dance fifteen rounds and win the title three times.

“That last fight against Spinks was a miracle fight. A 37-year-old heavyweight on his toes for 15 rounds. But one monkey doesn’t stop the show,” said Ali. Ali said that Leon Spinks was the man to take over the title of world

heavyweight champion: “He’ll be it if he comes back and trains seriously.” Ali rated three boxers equally as the best he had met. Floyd Patterson “was the best scientific fighter,"’ Joe Frazier was “the toughest” and George Foreman had the “hardest style.”

Ali said he would use his reputation to develop an organisation he had started called the World Organisation for Rights, Liberty and Dignity. Famous people were going to help him and he already had an offer of an office in the Kremlin, he said.

“We’re going to raise money for old folks homes, hospitals, disasters and boys’ camps; put on concerts and exhibitions. There is going to be no politics, no governments, no religion. All people of al! countries are going to be involved,” Ali said.

“That’s what’s important — not boxing.”