The Greatest

Boxing’s greatest-ever bout, the Thrilla in Manila took place on this very day in  1975. 

Having just returned from a visit to Manila yesterday it is hard for me not to think about Muhammad Ali today.

Pure skill was much of it. The brutal delicacy of the ring-craft, so rare in the heavyweight division. Among the lumbering sloggers he dodged and danced, floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee. Faced with a solid, flat-footed opponent, as all seemed to be compared with him, he would circle, torment and mesmerise, throwing short punches at speed. All that weaving, skipping, leaning leisurely away, before coming in for the kill. 

Muhammad Ali was The Greatest. For sure in the history of boxing. Maybe even the greatest in sports ever. Loved by the people all over the world. Mourned by many when his life ended recently. 

An athlete, preacher, politician, larger-than-life charachter. He is missed. His voice is missed in the turbolent world of terrorism, nee types of conflicts, contradictions and growing hatred – that we live in today. 

Here is The Economists tribute article to Ali (click here): The Economist: The Greatest