Keeping legend’s spirit alive
Muhammad Ali’s widow donates R15m to boxing fund for ex-champs
The constant outcry over the neglect of destitute ex-boxing champions is likely to ease after the wife of former world champion Muhammad Ali donated R15m to set up a fund to look after them.
The news broke at Mngqesha
Great Place recently after a visit by Dr Khalilah Ali.
She came to the Eastern Cape before attending the launch of the film of former SA world champion Gerrie Coetzee in Cape Town.
A friend of King Sandile’s spokesperson Zolile BurnsNcamashe since 2006, Dr Ali
decided to visit the province to launch the fund.
The ceremony was attended by former world champions like Welcome Ncita, Masibulele “Hawk” Makepula and ex Boxing SA boss Loyiso Mtya.
The money will come from Ali’s Dr Khalilah Ali Foundation.
Burns-Ncamashe hailed the gesture, saying it would go a long way towards restoring the dignity of former world champions.
To show appreciation, Burns-Ncamashe gave Ali a traditional Xhosa garment while conferring on her the royal title of Princess Nosisa-Emma Ali.
“As the kingdom of this area which incorporates Buffalo City renowned as the mecca of boxing in the land, we cannot begin to express our gratitude for what Princess Nosisa-Emma Ali has done,” he said.
“It broke our hearts that every time our ex-champions died, we read that they had done so as paupers despite playing such a crucial role in the upliftment of our communities.
“We had been thinking of doing something about this and the visit of Dr Ali was a timely punch in favour of our endeavours.”
Former world champion
Makepula said the gesture was a perfect tool to restore the dignity of erstwhile champions.
Makepula, a two-time world champion and an SA flag-bearer when the country made its return to the international sporting scene at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, said it hurt to know his peers had been neglected after their boxing careers were over.
“You cannot go from being a flag-bearer for the entire SA Olympic Team during that historic occasion to then being neglected in your hour of need,” he said.
“What is happening to our ex-boxers is an indictment on us as a community and government at large.
“I do not know whether it is because boxing is generally a sport for black people, hence no-one cares about it.”
He said Ali’s donation would go a long way towards addressing the imbalance exboxers faced in the country.
“God chooses certain people to carry out his will like he did when he chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Dr Ali has been chosen to save us and we should thank God for that.”
Burns-Ncamashe said the royal house would form a structure which would decide on how to use the cash.
“But we will get more input from Princess Nosisa-Emma when she returns in four months on how we will go about using the funding. It will be handled by the royal house.”DispatchLIVE
We cannot begin to express our gratitude for what Princess Nosisa-Emma Ali has done