PM praises boxing great Muhammad Ali

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday said he believed that former heavyweight champion boxer and one of the greatest sporting figures of the 20th century Muhammad Ali was the greatest sportsman owing to his talents and his beliefs about the human existence.

On his twitter account, Imran posted, “I believe he was the greatest sportsman, not only because he was talented, intelligent & courageous, but because his beliefs went beyond material considerations to a conviction that humans, unlike animals, had a higher purpose of existence.”

The prime minister also tagged a video recording titled Muhammad Ali’s biggest fight was not in the ring showing Ali’s professional life, briefs and different aspects of his life on different occasions during TV interviews.

“In standing up for his beliefs in the face of all odds, Ali sacrificed the best years of his sporting life & lucrative earnings. His strength & courage continue to inspire people across the world even today,” the prime minister said.

Ali was a US boxer, philanthropist and social activist and was universally regarded as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. He became an Olympic gold medalist in 1960 and the world heavyweight boxing champion during 1964. Following his suspension for refusing military service, Ali reclaimed the heavyweight title two more times during the 1970s, winning his famed and ferocious bouts against Joe Frazier and George Foreman.

During 1984, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Due to his philanthropist work, Ali earned the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.