What Muhammad Ali told his daughters was indicative of who he was as a man and boxer
It’s funny sometimes. Life that is. The journey of ups and downs.
I’ve been involved in boxing for a long time now but it never ceases to amaze me sometimes.
Things out of the blew can still come along. Suddenly. Still surprise me. Somehow. Not often. Every once in a while.
This one raised an eyebrow.
It’s not often that you get reached out to with an opportunity to speak to Muhammad Ali’s very own flesh and blood.
On his 77th birthday anniversary I had the opportunity and honor to catch up with two of his daughters.
Maryum and Hana Ali.
Not as well known as Muhammad’s daughter Laila but equally you’d know they were Muhammad Ali’s daughters alright after speaking to them. Some people just have something different.
They were speaking from LA. At the new Muhammad Ali Exhibition at the Beverly Center no less.
Upon beginning our cross-Atlantic phone conversation I was instantly energized just from the instant chemistry basically.
Mainly their genuineness, passion and charisma. Maryum began by saying:
“Literally we just got off the punching bag. We’re literally pumped!”
It was like talking to two female versions of Muhammad Ali. Pretty cool.
I asked the two did they have any interest in boxing. Hana said:
“I watch MMA because my husband is an MMA fighter. I watch some boxing too!”
On who of the modern heavyweights they knew about in today’s times Maryum said:
“I’ve seen Anthony Joshua fight! He’s a great boxer. I watched a documentary about him. He seems like a really nice, humble man.”
To which Hana added:
“I think Anthony Joshua reminds me of daddy the most out of the modern heavyweights.”
Maryum then shouted:
“He’s handsome like daddy!”
To which Hana laughed in response:
“May May’s not married. I am!”
Our chat opened up.
I wanted to get their opinion on how their dad would have felt about American and Western culture in recent years.
Since the start of the Donald Trump Presidency.
Maryum replied:
“It’s interesting. There are a lot of things in this day and age that are very similar to the 50’s and 60’s. He (my father) was very vocal on human rights. I think that he actually spoke for himself already because of the similarities you have.”
She added:
“He was more for all are men created equal and people should have their human rights.”
Hana replied:
“Our father always stuck up for the underdog and never shied down on giving his opinion.”
Maryum continued on the subject to say:
“Before he passed he actually made a statement about Trump’s Muslim ban. My father is a Muslim and he did stand up against Islamophobia in this country. He definitely would have been against the mistreatment of Latinos and Hispanics at the border and what’s going on at the (Southern US) border.”
She added:
“He loved children and he believed in human decency. Also I think he definitely would have had a problem with NFL players being called derogatory names because they took a stand against the police brutality in this country.”
Hana enthused further:
“Any and all people of any race or creed or religion that are being treated unjustly. He would always stand up for and that’s really the legacy of my father.”
What Muhammad Ali Told His Daughters
Maryum finished off by saying:
“He would also say — don’t stress out. I think Islam was a catalyst for his behavior. A lot of times that is taken out of the books and the articles is that he was as a Muslim and that he was a servant of God.”
She added:
“He believed in human rights first and respect for all people of all religions and freedom of speech and religions.”
As our conversation continued we switched to boxing.
Specifically Joe Frazier.
I wanted to know more about their thoughts on their father and his rival’s relationship.
Specifically during his boxing career.
Hana told me:
“Okay, so my father had nothing against Joe Frazier. He made audio recordings in the 1970’s. Home audio recording and he actually called Joe Frazier to wish him happy a Christmas. So there’s something that some people might not know.”
She added:
“The most important message here is to be clear that was a one sided rivalry on Joe’s side. My father never held grudges with anyone. He loved and forgave everyone.”
As our international call came towards an end I asked that if there was one message for humanity that Muhammad Ali had what did they think it was.
Maryum said:
“I think it would be that life is a test. We’re tested with wealth. We’re tested with poverty. We’re tested with illness. We’re tested with fortune and misfortune. Again, I’ll go back to his faith because that’s who he was. He wasn’t the perfect man but he really believed what God gave him in life to use it to his best ability.”
She added:
“Most importantly to worship a creator and pass the test of life that your creator gave you. To me, that would be the ultimate philosophy of my father. My father always talked about his faults. He felt guilty about certain things he did.”
“Look at my father’s life. He was really conscious about his evolution as a man. As a father he was that way. He never acted like he was perfect. I would say the big thing for him was to be subservient to who created you.”
On how he lived that message during his life Hana concluded:
“The way he did that in everyday life was that he gave back. He loved fans. He loved people like the air he breathed. He was very charitable. He would take time to talk to people and make them feel good.”
On his kindness she added:
“He would walk the streets with them. He brought homeless families home to live in our extra bedrooms sometimes. Because he believed it was a sin for people to live on the streets when there were spare rooms in our home.”
Incredible stuff.
So much good works done quietly away from his extroverted public exterior.
A gentleman who had a heart of gold away from the limelight.
Humility and humanity personified in any way understood in the comprehension of all human beings that have lived on this Earth.
A fighter in the ring and outside of it. Very good fighter and human indeed.
Rest in peace Muhammad Ali. Gone but never forgotten:
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