- Title: USA: Fundrasing Event For The Muhammad Ali Centre
- Date: 16th November 2000
- Summary: A fund-raising event in honour of boxing legend Muhammad Ali has raised around three million dollars in the United States. The money'll go towards the building of "The Muhammad Ali Center" in Kentucky, Los Angeles. The occasion was what the Americans call a "Roast This" event - a tribute to Muhammad Ali's career and his humanitarian efforts on behalf of children. The greatest boxer of all time - three times heavyweight world champion - is now suffering from Parkinson's disease but has lost none of his sparkling wit. Accompanied by his wife Lonnie and actress Bo Derek, Ali posed for the cameras before listening to the light-hearted jibes made in his honour. Screen stars - including actors like Sylvester Stallone, Robin Williams and Sydney Poitier - mingled with boxers past and present. Laila Ali, Muhammad Ali's daughter and herself a boxer, paid her own tribute to her dad. Boxers Lennox Lewis and Oscar de la Hoya said there was no doubt Ali was the greatest of all time. He was also a very special human being who had an incredible charisma. Comedian Billy Crystal did an impression of Ali at the peak of his career when he recited poetry and called his opponents ugly, including Joe Frazier, who was in the fund-raising audience.
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- Location: USA CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Reuters ID: LDL0012E4CORJ
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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- Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
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