YOU would think there’s nothing new to say about the life and times of Muhammad Ali, the subject of a ton of books, two full-length feature films and many TV documentaries.
But David Hannigan, a history professor and Irish Times columnist, has produced nearly 300 fascinating pages revealing what he got up to in the 15 years between his last fight in 1981 and when he lit the Atlanta Olympic flame.
Muhammad Ali called time on his legendary career in 1981
The Greatest lit the Olympic flame during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Games
In “Fifteen rounds in the Wilderness”, he relates hundreds of anecdotes as the man unanimously voted the outstanding sportsman of the 20th century constantly travelled the world.
In one twelve-month period, he took nearly 200 flights.
Ali, despite suffering from Parkinson’s, still managed to captivate Heads of State and men, women and children young and old wherever he went.
He lectured about his Muslim faith and raised millions for charity.
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His magnetic personality had a hypnotic effect on everyone he came into contact with – he stopped the traffic and was literally mobbed by thousands everywhere.
When he flew to Indonesia, more than 70,000 people turned up at a Jakarta Mosque to hear him speak.
Proof of the power of his celebrity came in 1990 when – against the wishes of President George Bush – he went to Baghdad and was granted an audience with Saddam Hussein.
He charmed the despicable President of Iraq and got him to agree to release 15 Americans he was holding hostage.
When Ali first met Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s President told the three-times world heavyweight champion he had been his inspiration during the 27 years he was incarcerated on Robben Island.
And Mandela had a photograph of Ali on his office wall until the day he died.
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Millions who had never seen Ali fight – apart from his endearing charisma – were attracted to him because of his fearless campaigning for human rights.
When a video of Ali was shown talking to a tent full of refugees at the Khyber Pass near the Afghan border a tall Arab wearing a white skull cap could be seen in the front row listening with rapt attention – he was identified as Osama bin Laden.
Ali, a father of nine, whether he was in Asia, Africa, Europe or America was at his most beguiling visiting children in schools and hospitals.
And, to their huge delight, he would spend hours with them doing his magic tricks.
Though he was barely audible at times as his symptoms got worse, he never lost his sense of mischief or humour.
Visiting a high-security San Diego prison, the inmates roared when he told them: “I’d like to thank you all for coming.”
And when asked, ‘How’s your home life?’ he replied: “I don’t know – I’m never home.”
He was often in Britain and on one trip to London, he took time to visit Michael Watson, who was recovering from one of his brain operations, in Homerton hospital.
Watson said: “It was an overwhelming moment and it undoubtedly helped me in my subsequent recovery.”
Because it emphasises Ali’s humanity, my favourite story in the book was when he was invited to the Royal Marsden Hospital to cheer up desperately ill cancer patients being treated in strict isolation.
Professor Ray Powles head of the treatment centre said: “Through the glass, he communicated with every one of my patients and the change in their demeanour and morale was visible.
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“Princess Diana had previously visited my unit. She made a good impression but Ali’s impact was far greater.”
From my ten-year experience playing a bit-part in Ali’s Flying Circus, he was unquestionably the Greatest inside and outside the ring.
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