Ali in characteristic pose during training for his July, 1972 fight against Al “Blue” Lewis in Croke Park. Inpho/Allsport photo.
By Jay Mwamba
The story of the prizefighter who would become “The Greatest” began -- at least on one side of his family – a century earlier in County Clare.
That’s when Muhammad Ali’s maternal great-grandfather, Abe O’Grady, left Ennis for the United States, this shortly after the American Civil War.
Abe settled in Kentucky and his progeny would include one Odessa Grady Clay.
Odessa bore her husband two sons, the first of whom would be christened Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
Junior would discard his given name to become widely known as Muhammad Ali, a three-time heavyweight champion of the world and prizefighting’s greatest ever practitioner.
Before his triumphant African coronation in the “Rumble in the Jungle,” against the fearsome George Foreman, Ali had returned to his maternal roots two years earlier for a fight.
What followed was a mesmerizing week in the land of his ancestors so enthrallingly captured by Echo columnist Dave Hannigan in his book “The Big Fight: Muhammad Ali v. Al Blue Lewis.”
Ali completely charmed the Irish and vice versa.
John Duddy, the former world middleweight title contender known as the “Derry Destroyer,” fondly remembers Ali.
“[I had] so many great memories watching Muhammad Ali on tape. I wished I was him when I was a kid,” he said.
On what Ali meant to him growing up in Ireland, Duddy said: “Images of the Pope and JFK are mounted above the fire place of many Irish families.
In my house, Muhammad Ali was above our fire place, the Pope and JFK were mounted on another wall. A true legend of our time.”
Duddy recalled once meeting the greatest and being struck dumb with awe.
“I could not speak a word,” he said.
“I am and always will be in awe of Muhammad Ali. Thank you, Ali. You were much more than a boxing champion for me and others around this small world.”
Ali died last Friday in Scottsdale, Ariz., aged 74. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 1984.
The three-time world heavyweight champion was a global icon that transcended boxing.
A hero of his time and generations to come, for his gaping skills, charisma, personality and humanity.
He was, as stated above, a hero in Ireland as much as anywhere in the world.
In addition to his fight against Al “Blue” Lewis in Croke Park, Ali returned to the home of GAA in 2003 to take part in the opening of the Special Olympics.
Croke Park had changed out of all recognition compared to 1972.
Sadly, so too had Ali when compared to those photos of his heyday as a fighter.
But what had not changed was the love and warmth that Ali felt for the Irish, and the love and warmth the Irish had for him.
My personal Muhammad Ali story, meanwhile, is a cautionary tale against procrastination.
I met Ali in March 1993 and had a photograph taken with him.
The photographer was a guy I covered fights with in New York City.
So I took time asking him for the photo back in the day before digital photography or email.
Next thing I knew the photographer had succumbed to an illness.
So no Ali photo and no personal memento of the Greatest.
Rest in peace Muhammad.
I grew up watching your fights and my mother was a big fan.
One of the countless millions.
