SOUTH AFRICA: The daughter of the legendary boxer Mohammed Ali meets Nelson Mandela in the run-up to her first title fight on African soil.

Record ID: 455743

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: The daughter of the legendary boxer Mohammed Ali meets Nelson Mandela in the run-up to her first title fight on African soil.
  • Date: 31st January 2007
  • Summary: AD1) JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JANUARY 30, 2007) (REUTERS) LAILA WALKING NEXT TO NELSON MANDELA, WHO IS BEING ASSISTED TO WALK OUT THE HIS FOUNDATION'S OFFICES ALI'S TRAINER LOOKING ON MANDELA AND ALI ADDRESSING THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) NELSON MANDELA ADDRESSING THE MEDIA SAYING: "I can't like advise present fighters, because I was a fighter many many many years ago, and the rules have differed, and so it's better for me to keep quiet, and not to say much...good luck." (SOUNDBITE)(English) LAILA ALI, PROFESSIONAL BOXER, SAYING: "That means so much to me, you guys we have already met, so I have so much inspiration and motivation to do my best, and I will...thank you." ALI LOOKING ON MANDELA AND ALI HOLDING HANDS MANDELA AND ALI HUGGING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAILA ALI, PROFESSIONAL BOXER, SAYING: "The energy that I got from him is inspiration in itself, I'm already a strong person, I'm already confident but that just gives a little bit extra, you know...so I feel very special." ALI AND HER COACHING TEAM POSING FOR A PHOTO WITH MANDELA
  • Embargoed: 15th February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: International Relations,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA36U5O7Y11NK9AHXZ4PG8G0PJD
  • Story Text: Laila Ali, the daughter of the legendary boxer Mohammed Ali, met with Nelson Mandela today. Laila Ali is a women's boxing champion in her own right and is in South Africa for her first title fight on African soil. Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, met with Nelson Mandela on Tuesday (January 30). The two met privately before addressing the media. But Mandela - a former boxer - made it clear that he didn't have any special tips to give Ali.
    "I can't like advise present fighters, because I was a fighter many many many years ago, and the rules have differed, and so it's better for me to keep quiet, and not to say much...good luck," said Mandela.
    "The energy that I got from him is inspiration in itself, I'm already a strong person, I'm already confident but that just gives a little bit extra, you know...so I feel very special," said Laila.
    The 29-year-old Ali will defend her WBC and IBF super-middleweight titles against Guyanese fighter Gwendolyn O'Neil on February 3 at Emperor's Palace casino in Johannesburg.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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