- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: BOXING - Laila Ali defeats Gwendolyn O'Neil in 56 seconds
- Date: 5th February 2007
- Summary: (REUTERS) ALI LEAVING RINGSIDE VICTORIOUS WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE ALI AND O'NEIL SEATED OFFICIALS AND MEDIA LISTENING DEFEATED GWENDOLYN O'NEIL TRYING TO SMILE (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD CHAMPION LAILA ALI SAYING: "I would like to thank Gwendolyn O'Neil for coming and having this rematch with me. Like I told her, I had a hard time getting a lot of girls to actually fight me, so, I appreciated her coming back again. I am happy that, obviously, I won, I knew that was going to happen and I would have liked for fans to see a little bit more, but that's ok if everything happens as it is it suppose to, and everyone did not want to be seriously hurt, and I know she is not seriously hurt and I told Gwen I like her, we can train, if she is getting ready for another fight, she can come and work with me, so, thank you." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING LAILA'S TRAINER LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) GWENDOLYN O'NEIL SAYING: "All I want to say, I want to thank God I survived and want to thank Laila Ali for fighting with me, I still want to fight with her and I would like to train with her and I want to thank God is good and thank all the media, thank you the whole of South Africa and we will be back soon, has to go back home, focus, do more of training and continue, thank you." ALI SEATED BETWEEN HER ENTOURAGE GWEN AND HER TEAM MATE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD CHAMPION LAILA ALI SAYING: "It was a big honour for me for him (Nelson Mandela - South Africa's former president) to grace us with his presence at this fight. I know he is a big fan of boxing, he loves my dad, like I said, for him to come out to my fight, he could not stay at home and watch it on TV, he wanted to be at the ringside, I know that takes a lot of energy to get here with all the fans, people love him so much, so, he has definitely made this a very special fight, more so than any other fight." AUDIENCE LISTENING ALI AND HER TEAM LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 20th February 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA3DKDI87MA86M2ENMLIPUGZBK7
- Story Text: Opponent Gwendolin O'Neil said at the pre-fight medical before taking on the redoubtable Laila Ali in the world super middleweight title bout at Emperors Palace on Saturday (February 3) night that "Jesus will look after me in the ring".
And, it might be construed, that divine providence indeed came to the rescue of the ageing 35 year-old O'Neil in that what was truly a farcical mismatch lasting only 56 seconds as the daughter of boxing legend Muhammed Ali knocked her opponent off her feet twice to secure a lightning-fast knock out victory.
Had the fight lasted any longer there is no knowing exactly what damage could have been done to a fighter with creditable past achievements in her chosen trade, but who now looks worn-out and weary in the ring and well-advised to think of retiring.
The Ali show was enacted in front of a host of luminaries headed by former president Nelson Mandela, with cricketer Makhanya Ntini second in line behind Madiba for applause as the "special guests" were announced in a ceremony that far outlasted the main bout itself.
With ringside seats going at R750 ($ 100), it can be estimated that paying non-celebrity patrons forked out about R14 ($ 20) a second to see the main bout and wonder whether it was really all worth it.
"I blinked for a brief moment during the fight when something seemed to get into my eye and cause me a moment of concern," said the 29 year-old Ali after stretching her unbeaten record to 24 fights in which only three have gone the distance.
But,if truth be known, she could probably have won the fight blind-folded - and in a canter at that.
The celebrated champion of ladies pugilists also disclosed that it would probably be her last fight for some while as she intended having her first child and going into temporary retirement.
She has achieved a great deal out of the ring and made a striking impression in her highly-publicised visit to South Africa and it is a pity she could not have been afforded a better opportunity of demonstrating her wares as a fighter.
"I was out to make it quicker than the last time when I knocked her out in the third round," said Ali, "but I did not expect it to be this quick" - disclosing also that her famous father would be given the result post-haste via a mobile phone call as soon as she exited the ring. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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