A tribute to Muhammad Ali

Jun 13, 2016 Sports

Wonderful initiative attracts disappointing turn out

By Sean Devers
A wonderful initiative dubbed a ‘Tribute to Muhammad Ali’ by Mc Neal Enterprise and the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) attracted a disappointing turn out at the Impeccable Banquet Hall last night and Head of Mc Neal Enterprise politician Odinga Lumumba was at pains to inform that ‘everyone’ had been invited.

The head table included Politicians and two Boxers.

Scheduled to commence at 17:00hrs, the well organised event started 25 minutes late but was worth the wait as historical and educational content delivered by several eloquent speakers, touched on every facet of Ali’s life.
President of the GBA Steve Ninvalle gave the opening remarks and jointly hosted the evening’s proceedings with Lumumba who informed the handful of specially invited guests that he approached GBA because after hearing of the death of Ali he felt it strange that nobody in Guyana did anything for him.
“Ali was more than just a Boxer, but an activist, teacher and leader for the oppressed and he also came to Guyana (1979) and was loved by all from all religions, Nationalities and races,” Lumumba said.
“Everyone was invited! All the sporting associations including the Boxing Board, the President, opposition Leader, the Mayor of Georgetown, everyone,” said Lumumba.
Clive Atwell is the National Featherweight and Lightweight Title and owner of the WBC CABOFE Super Lightweight and Featherweight crowns. But many might not have known that the Boxer who is preparing to do a brain surgery in Trinidad is also a Pastor. He began the auspicious event with a prayer before Chartered Account Christopher Ram was the first to give his tribute to Ali.
Ram admitted he was not a boxing fan and spoke about Ali, who was born as Cassius Clay, outside of the ring and spoke about his role as a freedom fighter.
Atwell who shared the head table with Ninvalle, Lumumba, Ram, Derick Phillips, Clement Rohee, Mike Parris and Minister Rupert Roopnarine, said Guyana needed more like Ali who stood up for what he believed in and was never afraid to say what had to even if it cost him three years of his career.
Parris became the only Guyanese to win a medal at the Olympics when he won bronze in 1980 games, and said he pattered himself off of Ali, while Phillips noted that Ali was black and denied and said no to the draft when he refused to enlist to fight in the war against Vietnam which meant no to bondage.
Rohee, General Secretary of the PPP, said what he most admired about Ali was his belief and what he stood for adding that his spoken words were just as powerful as his hands. Rohee feels Ali deserved a Noble Peace Prize.
Monica Thompson represented Mayor Patricia Chase-Green who was out of the country. She said Ali met with Sadam Hussain in 1990 and was a part of a peace delegation which traveled to Iraq in 1992.
Dr Roopnarine said that Ali turned boxing into an art form and spoke of the importance of Ali in England by Sir Garfield Sobers (the greatest cricketer) tolling the bell at Lords as a mark of respect for Ali (the Greatest Boxer).
Ali was proud to be a Black Muslim and fought for Social cohesion and his adherence to principle in a dangerous and divided world.
Ali won 56 of his 61 professional fights, 37 of them by way of knock-out and lost only five. He remains the only three-time lineal world heavyweight champion when he won the title in 1964, 1974, and 1978.