It seems trite to say that Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer that ever lived. He was that, of course, but he transcended sport. He became a cultural phenomenon because of his impressive personality. He ran rings around journalists and commentators with his quick-witted humour.There are so many good stories about him and his fights, mostly made up I admit. This is perhaps my favourite.

 

In 1975 he fought Chuck Wepner. As he left his hotel room before the fight Wepner told his wife tonight she would be sleeping with the world champion. Wepner dropped Ali at the end of the ninth and in his corner told his trainer to ” start the car, were going to the bank, we’re millionaires” The trainer looked across the ring and said ” hang on, he’s getting up and he looks pissed off”. Ali won all the remaining rounds, cut him over both eyes, broke his nose and knocked him out in the 15th. When Wepner went back to his hotel his wife took one look at him and said ” so, is he coming over here or am I going to his place?”

 

It doesn’t matter if a good story is true or not. It’s still a good story.