Nov. 10, 1964 - Muhammad Ali (pictured with Bill Russell outside Russell’s Boston restaurant, Slade’s Original Barbecue) looked ahead today to his title defense against Sonny Liston and said, “One billion people will be praying for me that night.”
Almost none of them, he admitted, would be in Boston Garden.
His billion rooters Monday will be in Asia, Africa, India — the Moslem countries of the world.
“People weren’t with me in Miami,” the champion told a press conference. “They won’t be with me here. But I love being the underdog. I hear a boo, I’m stronger. The more boos the better. Then I know I’m whipping more than one man.”
Ali tried to explain his unpopularity.
“They’re against me because I want to be righteous. I don’t drink, smoke, or have immoral thoughts. I make the people like other fighters. Liston was a gangster, now he’s a star.”
Some of the bases Ali touched after his impressive workout today included these: Rocky Marciano — “I don’t know if I could beat him, but I wish he was around now. We’d have a $20 million fight.”
Floyd Patterson — “He’s the one I want. He embarrasses easy, so I’ll embarrass him five, six rounds, then when I knock him out, I’ll put a cushion under his head and a milk bottle in his mouth.”
Other sports — “I’m only interested in championship events. Anything’s got a lot of pressure. I like men under pressure.”
Crooked stuff — “I’m not saying anything will happen, but this is a touchy fight. A lot of people will be watching — the President, the Pope, Goldwater.”
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comentarios