Black Muslims Meet at Chicago Coliseum, Ali Boxes Exhibition

Feb. 28, 1965 - It was a day of frolic yesterday in the Chicago Coliseum for the Black Muslims.

An estimated 2,500 followers of Elijah Muhammad attended the annual convention charity bazaar and were treated to demonstrations in the fine arts of boxing, weightlifting, strangling, stabbing, and even a short course in how to choke dogs.

The highlight of the day was a five-round exhibition boxing bout featuring Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight boxing champion. Ali, who appeared overweight and sluggish, was opposed by his younger brother, Rahman Ali. Both are members of the Black Muslims. 

The crowd got a chuckle when Ali pretended he had been knocked down two times during the fifth round of the first exhibition, but the champion quickly rose to his feet to assure one and all: “I’m still the greatest.”

Every person entering the hall was searched thoroughly, and a phalanx of bodyguards lined the aisles as Ali fought.

Followers of Malcolm X, who was slain last Sunday in New York, have blamed Elijah Muhammad for his death and have threatened to retaliate during the convention.

Ali’s life has been threatened too, and he appeared somewhat nervous as he entered the ring for the first time. Elijah Muhammad did not appear at yesterday’s session, but he is scheduled to deliver an address today.

The demonstrations of stabbing and strangling came during a 35-minute exhibition by karate experts who are members of the Black Muslims.

There were 20 men in the prizefight ring at one time, and each gave a demonstration of his favorite method of maiming an opponent.

This was followed by a 10-minute fight between a trained German shepherd dog and a man. It was announced as a way to guard against police dogs.

During the demonstration, a heavyset man kept making karate chop motions to confuse the dog and then finally slipped around behind the animal to get it in a choking grip. When he was finished with his simulated choking, the demonstrator picked the animal up and threw it through the air into the corner of the prize ring.

The conventioneers rose to their feet to applaud and remained standing for several minutes.

J.J. Shaffer, director of the Anti-Cruelty Society, however, expressed strong disapproval of the display. Shaffer said anyone who is obeying the law has no reason to fear police dogs.

An interesting demonstration was called “fighting in two chairs.”In this demonstration, two of the karate experts sat next to each other on straight chairs, and then one of them demonstrated a method of grabbing the other by the lapels and throwing him to the floor before stabbing him three times in the throat.

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