Earlier this year Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first boxing promotion -- Muhammad Ali vs. George Chuvalo.
That fight in Toronto, won by Ali by unanimous decision, took place March 29, 1966. It also happened to be the first fight Arum ever attended. The Harvard Law School graduate had worked as a lawyer in the U.S. Justice Department before getting into boxing.
Arum, 84, the founder and CEO of Top Rank, Inc., has the distinction of promoting more Ali fights than anyone. Naturally, Arum, like everyone in the boxing world, was saddened by Ali's death late Friday night at age 74 from complications of Parkinson's Disease, which he battled for 32 years.
Arum also said he believes that Ali's influence on race and religion had a tremendous impact globally. For years, Ali was the most well-known and admired person in the world.
“It’s sad, and yet, here was a person who probably did more to transform what people thought about race and religion and about peace, both in the United States and the world," Arum told USA TODAY Sports, "and I really believe he even had more of an impact, because he had been this great boxer, and because he had made this tremendous sacrifice, giving up his career for what he believed in for 3½ years -- than even Martin Luther King. I really believe that.
“He ended up beloved by everybody. For that to happen, based on the abuse that was heaped on him for a number of years when he took the position on the Vietnam War, is something that I wouldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams."
Arum credits Ali with changing his career path. He has gone on to promote many of the greatest fighters in the sport, including, besides Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao and Julio Cesar Chavez.
"Obviously I’m prejudiced because he’s responsible for my career, for being a boxing promoter," Arum said. "My life would have taken another path if not for him, so I’m sad to see him pass to another world. But, my God, he will be remembered forever, forever, in the history books, as one of the most important people of our time.”
Reaction to Ali's death poured in from around the boxing world. Here are a few:
Mike Tyson: "God came for his champion. So long Great One," he tweeted.
George Foreman: "We lost a great athlete. I lost a great friend . . . Remember Ali loved the press – he started the whole (publicity) thing. … We champs all really became one, so I can’t imagine things without my friend.”
Manny Pacquiao: "We lost a giant today. Boxing benefitted from Muhammad Ali's talents but not nearly as much as mankind benefitted from his humanity. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Ali family. May God bless them."
Oscar De La Hoya: “Beyond his incredible talent, he also made boxing interesting. Ali was fearless in the ring, and took on the toughest, most challenging opponents. Ali exemplified courage—he never took the easy route, something to be admired in and outside of the ring.
“As he grew older, he didn’t let his physical condition become an excuse to stop working; he continued to work hard, focusing on giving back to the community. Today, as we reflect on his life, let us remember a man who pursued greatness in everything he did and be inspired to hold ourselves to that same standard. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Timothy Bradley (Instagram): "I can't begin to compare any of my sadness to what his family may be feeling at this time. I pray that the Lord will bless them with the strength they may need to endure the loss of such a valuable man. Muhammad Ali is and will continue to be the reason why so many of us fighters step in the ring to give fight fans the best of us. Today will mark one of the saddest moments in boxing. RIP."
PHOTOS: The charismatic Muhammad Ali
