Muhammad Ali - The Greatest. RIP

Unless you were a Black adult or child in the 1970’s it's difficult to imagine the enormity of Mohammed Ali. The outpouring of love and affection since the news of his death is up there with the very greats, including Mandela, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.

Ali was of course different to the other three great men: He set out to be the best boxer in the world, but on route he found a Black consciousness that elevated him within the Black community to almost God-like. The price he paid for his consciousness was unprecedented. He lost the best years of his sporting life, at the same time relinquishing a fortune, but in doing so he made a black world feel the greatest pride.

For young boys like me going to almost all white schools, with the spectre of the National Front skin heads, chanting, ‘send the wogs to Vietnam’, was about as frightening as it gets. But amongst that Mohammed Ali gave you all the pride , and strength you needed to survive. He was pretty, he was the best, and not just the best because he won, he also won with style.

No heavy weight boxer before or afterwards moved with such grace in a brutal gladiatorial arena.

Because of Ali we all took up boxing- my best friend at that time went on to be a world champion himself - Chris Pyatt

Not content with being the greatest boxer of his generation, he was also one of the greatest advocates for Black empowerment. A motor mouth you wanted on your side. A man who could talk anyone down with facts, wit and guile. His motivation was all about addressing a racial wrong.

At school your white friends always supported anyone but Ali, because they were threatened by his blackness. You, on the other hand, knew that an Ali victory was a win for Black people.

Knowing the importance of Ali, I’ve brought my own son up on the political and sporting prowess of the great man, to the extent, where he’ll say, ‘Dad, the way Ali dissed Joe Frazier was wrong’, but then adding, ‘Come on dad, let's fight, I’m Ali, you can be Jack Johnson, put your hands up, your nothing but a bum’.

Mohammed Ali, you have no idea just how much you gave to us, but I hope you do because your impact on our lives was truly immense.

By the way, if you haven’t seen the film: ‘When we were Kings’, see it. It’s perhaps one of the best boxing films ever made.

To the greatest, Rest in Peace.

Simon Woolley