Rudy-D.F.F!!!!
11-18-2006, 06:33 PM
An historical evening in Madison Square Garden, in New York
Muhammad Ali needed only to step in the stadium, in New York, for the 14,260 spectators to start singing the roaring and familiar salutation: “Ali, Ali, Ali”. Thirty five years after fighting the first of three epic battles against Joe Frazier, Ali shakes up Madison Square Garden once again.
This time, however, the legend did not need to throw any punches to find joy. Muhammad Ali was, last Saturday, watching his daughter Lailah defend her title of World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion. The ex- heavyweight champion seemed fragile and shook violently, from the Parkinson’s disease he suffers.
After being celebrated by the celebrities present, such as Dustin Hoffman, who sat beside him and kissed him on the face, Ali had more reason to be happy. In the fourth round, Laila Ali threw a combination of rights and lefts that broke the challenger Shelley Burton's nose, which curved while blood poured out of it. Thus, the referee Arthur Mercante Jr. ended the fight, with two seconds left till the bell. Laila retains her Council belt.
“I was happy with my performance”, says Laila, Ali’s second-youngest daughter. “I wanted to knock her out, but, unfortunately, the fight was interrupted. It was a special evening. I am still excited about having fought here, and it is great to have him [Mohammed Ali] watching me”, she commented.
Laila Ali, at 28 years of age, has a record of 23 wins and no losses. Shelley has eight wins, three losses and one draw.
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Muhammad Ali needed only to step in the stadium, in New York, for the 14,260 spectators to start singing the roaring and familiar salutation: “Ali, Ali, Ali”. Thirty five years after fighting the first of three epic battles against Joe Frazier, Ali shakes up Madison Square Garden once again.
This time, however, the legend did not need to throw any punches to find joy. Muhammad Ali was, last Saturday, watching his daughter Lailah defend her title of World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion. The ex- heavyweight champion seemed fragile and shook violently, from the Parkinson’s disease he suffers.
After being celebrated by the celebrities present, such as Dustin Hoffman, who sat beside him and kissed him on the face, Ali had more reason to be happy. In the fourth round, Laila Ali threw a combination of rights and lefts that broke the challenger Shelley Burton's nose, which curved while blood poured out of it. Thus, the referee Arthur Mercante Jr. ended the fight, with two seconds left till the bell. Laila retains her Council belt.
“I was happy with my performance”, says Laila, Ali’s second-youngest daughter. “I wanted to knock her out, but, unfortunately, the fight was interrupted. It was a special evening. I am still excited about having fought here, and it is great to have him [Mohammed Ali] watching me”, she commented.
Laila Ali, at 28 years of age, has a record of 23 wins and no losses. Shelley has eight wins, three losses and one draw.
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