As a tubby little 7 year old growing up in Melbourne Australia in the mid 1960’s, I can still vividly recall the first time I ever saw Cassius Clay. On February 25 th 1964 a post fight interview with a young Bragging, loquacious African American man flashed up on our black and white television in suburban Moonee Ponds. He was yelling “I am the greatest, I must be the greatest”.

Cassius Clay had just beaten the “big Ugly bear” aka Sonny Liston to win the World Heavyweight Championship. I was mesmerized by this young man’s confidence and sheer audacity ! To come out and say “I am the greatest “ was just not the done thing in the mid 1960’s when humility, faux or real was the accepted behavior for public figures! Suffice to say this young man from Louisville Kentucky, Cassius Marcellus Clay, certainly got my attention ,. An attention that has spanned almost 60 years and shows no signs of abating even after his passing in June 2016 !!

Despite the fact that I lived almost as far as globally possible away from where Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali lived in Louisville ,Kentucky, I along with many other young Aussie males followed his career with slavish devotion, albeit with some wishing for him to be knocked out rather than victorious. Such was the dichotomy that is often forgotten when people reminisce about Muhammad Ali. Although Ali may be revered today he definitely had huge detractors both for his fighting style of “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” seen by boxing purists used to rock em sock em types like Rocky Marciano and bruising behemoths like Sonny Liston, as somewhat effete, and for his bragging, conversion to Islam and stand against the Vietnam war.

Through all of this like most of my aussie mates I kept the faith. Why ? I’m not sure I even know now as the tubby 7 year old has morphed into a tubby 65 year old !l For me I think it was Ali’s athleticism, toughness, confidence both in and out of the ring and his quick wit that always put things into perspective. Whether trash talking boxing opponents or refusing induction on the US armed services in opposition to the war in Vietnam, Ali appeared to be one step ahead of everybody else both in and out of the ring. He was not a perfect human being by any means but to quote the bible “ he who is without sin cast the first stone”

Fast Forward almost 50 years later and life finds me living in the USA. It is June 2022 and I am in Louisville Kentucky, about to visit the Muhammad Ali Center a multicultural center dedicated to his life and legacy. As a lifelong boxing and Ali fan this is definitely a case of “ticking one off the bucket list “ for me.

But It also has a deeper meaning . My boxing coach and dear friend Des Duguid , pictured with Ali below, competed in the same Olympics (Rome 1960) as the then Cassius Clay and regaled me with many a story about his freakish boxing skills ,ebullient personality and boundless charisma. Des like Ali eventually suffered from Parkinson’s disease and passed away in 2007. After a 30 year career in the Fitness Industry I commenced teaching boxing classes to Parkinsons patients in 2016 . So I feel a kinship of sorts to the legacy and spirit wonderful blokes like Des Duguid and Muhammad Ali left the world ,as well as my boxing clients with Parkinsons who are a true inspiration for me. .

In 2007 I saw Ali in person in Charlottesville Virginia. Unfortunately he was at this point suffering from debilitating effects of Parkinsons and at that particular moment appeared to be having a bad experience as his limbs were shaking uncontrollably. Even though he was renowned for being very approachable given his condition I didn’t think it was appropriate to intrude at that time.

As I entered the Muhammad Ali center, intent on exploring every floor and exhibit, I noticed a group of people gathered not far from the entrance. The center of attention was an older gentleman who appeared even at his advanced age to have been an athlete. Looking at his long limbs , a basketball player was my guess.

To my surprise on seeing me he called out “ sir , sir come here please” I looked around and yes he was talking to me. I ambled over and he aske me” Are you Irish ?” …”Well I’m Australian but am also a proud Irish Citizen” I replied. “ Yes you have the same type of hair of my grand father had and he was part Irish, plus the way you walk and your demeanor makes made me think you must be Irish”. All of this he said while shaking my hand in what could only be described as a vice like grip that belied his advanced years. “ wow you are good reader of people I replied. “ Well I’m Muhammad’s brother” he replied. Yes this gent was Muhammad Ali’s younger brother Rahman Ali !

Over the next 10- 15 minutes I spoke with Rahman about Australia, his brother and his message of perseverance, confidence, dedication and the triumph of the human spirit. While speaking with with him I was reminded so much of Ali 1960 Olympics contemporary Des Duguid, with his easy going, cheeky banter and gentle spirit.

For me this visit to the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky was more than just “ticking one off the bucket list”. A couple of old adages spring to mind. It reminded me that “there are no coincidences in life” and yes “life definitely does indeed work in mysterious ways”.