Ali serenaded on 70th birthday
MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE TURN OUT FOR LAVISH $1,000-A-PLATE FUND-RAISER
Loui s v i l l e , Kentucky ( AFP) More than 300 people serenaded boxing icon Muhammad Ali with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” on Saturday at a lavish $ 1 ,000 ( Dh3,670)- a- plate fund-raiser and party in his Kentucky hometown.
Ali, who i s one of the world’s most recognisable sportsmen, t urns 70 tomorrow.
The former three- time world heavyweight champ now suffers from Parkinson’s disease which doctors have said could be a result of his boxing career.
The fund-raiser was held at the Muhammad Ali Centre in Louisville and is part of the facility’s “Seven Days for Seven Decades” programme of community activities.
Ali moved slowly but at times walked on his own as he mingled and waved to attendees. When he was not walking by himself, he was assisted by his wife Lonnie.
Guest list
Besides relatives, t he guest list included Ali’s former trainer Angelo Dundee and three American hikers who were once jailed in Iran.
The fund-raiser was held at the Muhammad Ali Centre in Louisville and is part of the facility’s “Seven Days for Seven Decades” programme of community activities.
Ali had pushed the Iran government for their release. Rock star John Mellencamp, whose son is a boxer, performed at the event.
Ali, who was born Cassius Clay in Louisville on January 17, 1942, owns homes in Arizona and Michigan as well as in Louisville.
In November, the heavyweight great was briefly hospitalised i n Phoenix, where doctors treated him for dehydration.
That came a few days after Ali attended the funeral of his old rival Joe Frazier, who died of liver cancer in Philadelphia on November 8.
Ali has tried to use his public st ature to rai se awareness about his illness and campaign for research funding.
Reform campaign
He has also continued to involve himself in various charitable ventures and campaigned for boxing reform.
The Muhammad Al i Centre — which opened in November 2005 — is a six-storey cultural centre that celebrates his life and career, including his legendary f ights against Frazier and George Foreman.