Laying One On The Greatest

The Pres pool was never the same again…

e could, of course, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, and talk the hind legs off a donkey…

He could also reduce just about any man, woman or Pres kid to tears of laughter with his sharp wit and world-conquering charm.

Such was the case when Muhammad Ali met Bray schoolboy Philip Troy, when the bumping fists in RTÉ Television’s Studio 1 back in July 1972. 

Lewis vs Ali

Ali was getting ready to be interviewed on Sports In Action, by the great Michael O’Hehir, all part of the promotion for his fight with Al ‘Blue’ Lewis at Croke Park on July 19th. A fight Ali won in the eleventh round.

But not before giving young Philip a taste of what Al Lewis was up against.

Ali vs Troy

“It’s a memory I’ll always cherish,” says Philip of his memorable showdown. “He was just so down to earth, and funny, I had to keep reminding myself, this is Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time!”

Indeed. One of the finest sportsmen of all time, Muhammad Ali – who passed away June 3rd, 2016 – was also one of the most disarming. He was black Elvis. He was JFK, MLK and James Brown, all rolled into one.

As for the time Ali got a flat tyre and called into Primrose Cottage in Enniskerry, that’s for another day…

This article first appeared on June 4th 2016, the day after Ali’s passing.