By Ricky Hatton: I was extremely saddened to wake up this morning and be told of the passing of the legendary Muhammad Ali.
It is not only a very sad loss for boxing, but for the whole of sport as he was quite simply the greatest and most iconic athlete the world has ever known.
The greatest fighter of all-time, Muhammad Ali, passed away just hours ago as surely every person with a TV, a radio or a computer knows by now. Without doubt the most famous, the most celebrated and the most intoxicating sporting personality who ever lived, Ali, the former three-time world heavyweight king, will continue to be celebrated and honoured for many days, weeks, months, years, decades, maybe even centuries from now.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, he cannot hit what he cannot see, rumble young man rumble! The entire Boxing Family is in grief shedding copious tears which are falling thick and fast like autumnal leaves, following the passing of Muhammad Ali, the most phenomenal fighter of all time…The Greatest. A golden era of Boxing passes with him.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced its flags will fly at half-staff in memory of three-time heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. He passed away yesterday in Arizona. He was 74.
1990 Hall of Fame Inductee Muhammad Ali
Born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942, he won light heavyweight gold at the 1960 Olympics and turned pro the same year. As a pro, Ali was the first man to win the world heavyweight championship three times (1964-67, 1974-78, 1978-79).
Amir Khan has issued the following statement following the death of boxing icon Muhammad Ali:
“It is extremely sad to witness the passing of boxing’s greatest fighter and icon Muhammad Ali. I would like to send my deepest condolences and thoughts to his family at this time. No fighter or sportsman will ever reach the level of Muhammad Ali, whose name will continue to echo through the ages. Inspiring, charismatic, a true legend – Ali will never be forgotten. Having the chance to meet the great man will be a memory and privilege I will always hold dear to me – an incredible human being, fighter and role model. Thank you Muhammad for inspiring us all.”
Boxing great Muhammad Ali died tonight at a Phoenix, Arizona hospital. Ali was 74. He was taken to the hospital on Thursday with a respiratory problem. The conditioned worsened overnight. By Friday, Ali’s conditioned led to him being put on life support. Ali had been battling Parkinson’s disease for over 30 years.
Bob Arum, one of the promoters for Ali, had this to say on Twitter: “A true great has left us. Muhammad Ali transformed this country and impacted the world with his spirit. His legacy will be part of our history for all time.”
On Friday night, DiBella Entertainment returned to Resorts World Casino New York City with another action-packed nine-bout card for the latest installment of its popular “Broadway Boxing” series, proudly sponsored by Nissan of Queens.
The evening concluded with a slugfest featuring female fighters Alicia Napoleon, 153½, of Lindenhurst, NY, and Latasha Burton, 162, of New Orleans, LA, facing off in a rematch scheduled for eight rounds. There were plenty of shifts in momentum with each taking control at times while dishing out heavy artillery. Napoleon began applying pressure from the outset but Burton soon found a home for her straight right counter.
Golden Boy Promotions kicked off the summer with a sold out stacked undercard of top talents, including WBC Silver Featherweight champion Ronny Rios and the first ever female fighters on this edition of LA FIGHT CLUB. Golden Boy fighter Jesus “Renuente” Soto Karass was in attendance to witness all of the action. Fans were able to tune in to this fight frenzy broadcast live on Estrella TV and streaming live simultaneously on Ring TV, estrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios.
Undefeated lightweight world champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (25-0, 13 KOs) defeated former world champion Mickey “The Spirit” Bey (22-2-1, 10 KOs) by split decision (117-110, 116-111, 110-117) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike Friday night at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Following an exciting first round in which Barthelemy backed Bey up at the bell, round two came to a close with similar fireworks in the form of an accidental head butt. In the commotion, a stunned Barthelemy stumbled to the canvas and referee Sam Burgos ruled it an official knockdown, making it the first of Barthelemy’s career.
Victor Kpadenou has a tough job on his hands when he steps into the ring next week against American, Morgan ‘Big Chief’ Fitch in a Light heavyweight contest at the Meadow Racetrack and Casino in Washington, USA.
Kpadenou (10-10, 5 KOs), the former IBU super welterweight champion of the world is still looking for his first victory in the United States having lost his two opening fights in the ‘Mecca of boxing’ since arriving late last year.
He lost on unanimous points to both Earl Newman on December 29, 2015 and Godson Noel on January 22 this year but the man from Benin in West Africa is confident he will make this opportunity count against the undefeated Fitch (16-0-1, 7 KOs) on June 18.