THE SOUL OF A BUTTERFLY
Book a story of a legend with unwavering conviction
THERE may not be another person like the late Muhammad Ali, world heavyweight boxing champion. To his fans around the world, Ali is the people’s champion.
His death last year did not diminish his fans’ memory of him. In fact, more stories of the legend surfaced to the point that they will live forever.
His fans continue to adore him till today. For those who wish to get a glimpse of his philosophy of life, they may want to read this book, Muhammad Ali, the Soul of a Butterfly.
It is a book that Ali wrote with his daughter, Hana Yasmeen Ali. Published in 2004, the book is dedicated to Ali’s parents, Odessa and Cassius Clay.
Ali’s fans should get a copy of the book that would give them a glimpse into the life of the man behind the knockout punches. The book also include poems that would cast a spell on those who love him.
The Sunday Times (London) wrote: “Ali: the world’s most beloved sportsman, perhaps the world’s most beloved human being… in his conversations with his daughter, he emerges as a person of almost Christlike nature — sweet, gently proud, remorseful.
“His apology to his greatest opponent, Joe Frazier, for past insults, is truly touching.”
In the book, Ali wrote: “Joe made me fight harder than I ever thought I could. He was a formidable opponent whose skills I will always respect.
“But I had hurt Joe in more ways than one and I didn’t realise at the time how my words and actions impacted his family. It was never my intention to hurt them. For that, I’m sorry.”
Everyone remembers the three times the two boxers slugged it out in the ring. The bout in the Philippines, dubbed as “The Thrilla in Manila”, took a toll on both boxers.
Ali’s remorse for his insults on Frazier led him to pen a long poem, in true Ali style, which was included in the book.
I picked a few verses from the poem titled The Silent Warrior:
There lives a great fighter named Joe
Who took his share of blows
They ranged from high to low He travelled around the globe
And walked the long road home
His pain no man could know.
There lives a great man named Joe Who was belittled by a loudmouth foe
While rival would taunt and tease, Joe silently bore the stings
And fought like a gladiator in the ring. Long after the final bout ended After the last bell rang
News reached Joe’s old opponent Of the pain his family had suffered
The blows weren’t intended to hit home
But his family still remembers the anguish
Their hurt had never ended
Now Ali could feel Joe’s pain
And Ali’s sorrow could not be relieved
For every struggle that Joe survived
For every dispute he endured, to rise.
Joe will go down in history
As a model for champions to come
Joe Frazier was a silent warrior whom Ali silently admired.
One could not rise without the other.
The Ali story is about faith and friendship, of principles and freedom. Ali narrated an incident just before his big fight with Sonny Liston that changed the world boxing landscape forever.
By the time Ali fought Liston, he had embraced Islam.
His friendship with Muslim personalities grew, among them with Malcolm X, regarded by white America as a dangerous Muslim leader.
Ali was told by his sponsor to cut ties with Malcolm X, whom Ali described as a man of “great vision and pride... a good sense of humour and quiet intelligence”.
In the book, Ali wrote: “They told me unless I sent Malcolm and his family home, fired my Muslim cook, and severed all ties with the Nation of Islam, the fight would be cancelled and I would never fight again.
“So I said to hell with the fight… I wouldn’t be who they wanted me to be. I was free to be who I wanted to be.
“Later that night, I received a phone call. The fight was still on.”
In her co-author’s note, Hana Yasmeen wrote: “Myths are about gods, legends are about heroes, and fairy tales describe the endless worlds of magic and dreams.
“This book is neither myth not fairy tales, but the story of a legend with unwavering conviction.”
How could one not read this book with an introduction like that!
Ali’s fans should get a copy of the book that would give them a glimpse into the life of the man behind the knockout punches.