madjack
23-10-2002, 02:03 AM
Ali declares Lewis 'greatest'
From a correspondent in Toronto
22oct02
AFP
MUHAMMAD ALI has handed over his self-proclaimed title "The Greatest" to British heavyweight Lennox Lewis during a Canadian Football League match here.
Ali, appearing at the game raising funds for the Parkinson Society of Canada – a degenerative disease that he is wrestling with - remains one of the most popular sports figures ever despite having fought his last match some 20 years ago.
"I'm here because I was the greatest.
"I'm now no longer the greatest," the 60-year-old heavyweight legend told the cheering crowd, which shouted "Ali, Ali."
"He's the greatest, he's the champ," Ali said turning around and pointing to Lewis.
The 37-year-old British boxer, who stood on stage with heavyweight champions Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield, defeated Mike Tyson in June in the eighth round, confirming his standing as the best heavyweight in the world.
Ali, whose hands visibly trembled, faked sparring with Lennox at the game's halftime, saying: "Don't worry, I wasn't going to hurt him."
Canadian skating stars Elvis Stojko and Jse Chouinard raised a banner that read "Muhammad Ali in person for the greatest good" at the SkyDome, a spokeswoman said.
Still sporting his sharp wit despite his words slurred by his illness, Ali dismissed a question about if the disease was his "toughest battle."
He quipped with a smile: "The toughest battle I ever fought was my first wife."
From a correspondent in Toronto
22oct02
AFP
MUHAMMAD ALI has handed over his self-proclaimed title "The Greatest" to British heavyweight Lennox Lewis during a Canadian Football League match here.
Ali, appearing at the game raising funds for the Parkinson Society of Canada – a degenerative disease that he is wrestling with - remains one of the most popular sports figures ever despite having fought his last match some 20 years ago.
"I'm here because I was the greatest.
"I'm now no longer the greatest," the 60-year-old heavyweight legend told the cheering crowd, which shouted "Ali, Ali."
"He's the greatest, he's the champ," Ali said turning around and pointing to Lewis.
The 37-year-old British boxer, who stood on stage with heavyweight champions Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield, defeated Mike Tyson in June in the eighth round, confirming his standing as the best heavyweight in the world.
Ali, whose hands visibly trembled, faked sparring with Lennox at the game's halftime, saying: "Don't worry, I wasn't going to hurt him."
Canadian skating stars Elvis Stojko and Jse Chouinard raised a banner that read "Muhammad Ali in person for the greatest good" at the SkyDome, a spokeswoman said.
Still sporting his sharp wit despite his words slurred by his illness, Ali dismissed a question about if the disease was his "toughest battle."
He quipped with a smile: "The toughest battle I ever fought was my first wife."