Mark Tran in New York Boxing
Almost 20 years after Muhammad Ali retired from boxing, another Ali is poised to enter the ring, perhaps as soon as this summer. She is Laila Ali, his youngest daughter.
Laila Ali, aged 21, trains at the Los Angeles Boxing Gym, turning up every night for sparring practice.
One of nine Ali children, she told her father of her decision to follow in his footsteps in late January, saying she was determined to turn professional. Muhammad Ali, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, which has reduced his voice to a whisper, was reportedly less than thrilled when he heard the news.
Until two years ago, he opposed female boxing because it went against his Muslim beliefs. He was not too keen on another daughter, Miriam, being a stand-up comedian.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” Ali told Laila, according to The New York Times. “Daddy, I’m not going to get hurt,” she said. “I’m going to be fighting women, not men. And I have your genetics.”
Laila Ali is unconvinced of a direct link between her father’s pummelling in the ring and his physical condition. But she said she had no intention of taking as much punishment as he did in his 61-fight professional career which lasted from 1960 to 1981.
“My father had a whole different strategy,’ she said. “He trained himself to be beat by opponents that were stronger than him. He took a lot more beatings than I plan on taking. And he fought a lot longer than I plan on fighting. I don’t plan on taking much of a beating at all. I am a woman and I want to give birth one day.”
Laila Ali, who does not yet have a promoter, currently runs a beauty salon. She is 1,75m and weighs about 73kg.
Women boxers believe she could be a big plus for female boxing, which is catching on in California. Women at the start of their career typically earn about R1 200 a round. Christie Martin, the top female boxer, earns R600E000 to R900E000 a bout.
ENDS