How Muhammad Ali and boxing created a family bond and made the days of childhood count.
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Most men raise an eyebrow when I tell them my favorite sport is boxing and assume I say that to get a reaction. But I’ve loved boxing since I was seven years old thanks to two men: my dad and Muhammad Ali.
As a kid, I wasn’t a classic tomboy. I was an interesting hybrid of Easy-Bake Oven and G.I Joe. The one sport I could really relate to was boxing. Now before you assume I enjoy watching to men punch each other, let me explain why boxing became my favorite pastime.
My first recollection of the world of boxing was watching a black man who embodied everything that was interesting to my seven-year-old mind. Muhammad Ali was funny, he was sharp and when he spoke, people paid attention. I was also intrigued by how my dad as captivated by young black man. So I was front and present for the Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinx match. My dad, also an avid boxing fan, welcomed my presence.
That boxing match solidified ( in my mind) that Muhammad Ali was an amazing boxer. After that, I wanted to see more of Ali. I was delighted not only with his verbal skills but his skills in the ring. Muhammad Ali made boxing an art form. With his quickness and agility, he was a talented and entertaining boxer. His confidence, who some thought bordered on cockiness, was endearing and I learned how to imitate his brazen style, much to the chagrin of my mother and teachers. Apparently, skinny black girls who behaved like Muhammad Ali weren’t popular back then.
My dad, however, respected my passion for boxing and my admiration for Muhammad Ali. My dad would regale me with stories about Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Muhammad Ali ( all boxing matches before my time). It became our thing. It wasn’t one of those rare father-daughter bonding moments but more of an understanding of something that connected us. As my dad would share about boxing and explain boxing terminology, I often imagined myself in the ring. At that time, they weren’t any female boxers and unlike Muhammad Ali, my fighting skills didn’t match my big mouth. I was intrigued by Muhammad Ali inside and outside the ring, simply because he was intrinsically motivated to be The G.O.A.T. Yes, he was a trash talker but he delivered and did with style. My dad converted my infatuation with Muhammad Ali into a deeper appreciation of boxing as an art form.
To my dad, boxing wasn’t a barbaric “manly” sport that exemplified men’s need to prove their manliness. My dad would talk about life skills and present life lessons while we watched boxing matches. A highly educated man with interest in philosophy, literature and linguistics, he wove the philosophies of Descartes with boxing to demonstrate about the power of your mind as well as your body. My father showed me how to look beyond the physical aspect of boxing and see that boxing wasn’t just about strength and power, it was about determination, resilience, and a strong will. Our moments together talking about Sugar Ray Leonard and later Mike Tyson would draw comparisons to Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.
When I became a teen and then a young adult, I hung out with my father, but would always make time to watch a boxing match together. We discussed how Don King was a poison to boxing and we shared our discontent with the “ear bite” during the Tyson vs. Holyfield fight.
When Muhammad Ali showed signs of how Parkison’s had affected his body, I was devastated to know that boxing had contributed to his condition. When my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I knew that our “boxing time” would be limited and soon it became a distant memory for him but a lifetime memory for me. Three years ago when my dad passed away, I thought of the Muhammad Ali quote “Don’t count the days; make the days count.” The memories of quality time with my dad made those days in my childhood count.
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Photo: Flickr/Cliff
Hi J,
I am so fascinated by your movie! Please contact me!
Beautiful article, Marie. I also had bonding experiences with my dad through Muhammad Ali. I finally picked up boxing, which was odd for a female or a person my age. I talk about it in my film, “Fight Like a Girl.” It’s what brought me to boxing and am grateful for all the lessons I learned. Thanks for your article and best to you and your father.
http://www.FightLikeAGirlTheMovie.com