Muhammad Ali Honored In His Hometown

Associated press reports that heavy weight champion Muhammad Ali won another round of love and appreciation for his achievements as a fighter in and out of the ring.
The latest celebration of the three-time world heavyweight champion and self-proclaimed “Greatest Of All Time” featured former champions and Larry Holmes and George Foreman, two notable erstwhile opponents who gladly came to honor Ali on Thursday night in his Kentucky hometown.


Friends, associates and dignitaries were also on hand for the ceremony on the 40th anniversary of Ali’s third fight with Joe Frazier in the Philippines, an epic 14-round battle known as the “Thrilla in Manila.” Ali earned his second victory over Frazier when the former champion didn’t come out for the final round, and that fight is considered one of the greatest events in boxing and sports.

The 73-year-old Ali is battling Parkinson’s disease. Seated at a front table with wife Lonnie to his right, the champion wore sunglasses as a slide show of iconic photos played behind him.
 He did not speak, and no photos were permitted during the ceremony.

 His presence was one of a few yearly visits home, as he spends most of his time in Arizona along with homes in several states.
Ali’s victory and other notable moments were highlighted on a backdrop of two dozen magazine covers at different points of his three-decade career as a fighter and half-century as a humanitarian.
This week’s Sports Illustrated cover features Ali as a young fighter. Other notable moments were featured in a video montage in which he described himself as “The Greatest.”