I learned much about wrestling from our Norwegian Elkhound, Skipper. A friendly family dog, Skipper was happy following me about on our small farm at the end of the road. But when we got to wrestling, he was all business and not averse to any tactic necessary. In hindsight, I like to think he enjoyed our wrestling bouts, but it’s also possible he simply didn’t like being messed with. I gave up on our wrestling gigs after he bit off a small piece of my ear.

A few years later, boxing would tweak my interest when friend and classmate Kelly McCue took up Golden Gloves. Kelly was, and still is, a nice guy who quietly went about his business. He didn’t seem the boxing type, that is, if there is one. Then one day he announced he was about to have his first fight. I had to see this.

From the onset, the two squared off toe-to-toe, jab-for-jab, and upper cut for upper cut. Neither fighter backed down. It was a fierce side of Kelly I had never seen before which, of course, is a necessary element in the sport. I don’t recall if it was the punishing workout regimen required for boxing or watching a left hook land to a chin from up close that decided boxing wasn’t for me – I’d stick with basketball. I’d watch boxing on television instead. Actually, I think Kelly also went on to watch boxing on television not long after. Fortunately for us, the ’70s were a great time to watch boxing as one fighter dominated the scene. We’ll go back a decade first.

In 1964, young Olympic champion Cassius Clay entered the pro boxing ring to challenge the 8-1 favorite and bruising heavyweight champion of the world, Sonny Liston. It didn’t look to be a fair fight by any measure, but the challenger shocked the boxing world with a dominating seven-round technical knockout of the champ. Suddenly, the whole world knew of the brash and controversial Cassius Clay.

Soon after winning the title, the champ changed his name to Muhammad Ali as he converted to the Islamic religion. He was later banned from boxing for draft evasion and had to give up his title. He won the title back in 1974, then lost it and won it back again in 1978. He was showy, boastful, and a world-class trash-talker as he taunted rivals for the viewing audience. His cocky predictions on what round a fight would end were as irritating as they were accurate. It was easy not to like him or at least, I didn’t.

Despite these things, Ali was articulate, playful, intelligent, and exactly what professional boxing needed, transforming it into a global phenomenon. Almost overnight, professional boxers like Spinks, Quarry, “Smoking Joe” Frazier, Norton and George Foreman became celebrities, and the boxing world was at its pinnacle. (How many current boxers can you name now?) Whether you enjoyed his antics or not, Ali was a breath of fresh air who was as good at dicing with the press as he was in predicting his victories that amassed to a 56-5 lifetime record.

Away from the ring, Ali was a gentle spirit and a man of peace who advocated for equality, human dignity, spirituality and reducing human suffering. In 1998 he was awarded the designation as the United Nations Messenger of Peace. In truth, all his boasting, taunting, and showmanship, were more an act and not his true persona and it turned up the lights so brightly on his fight against injustice it was difficult for those of dark motives and causes to hide.

All I can say is that as Muhammad “The Greatest” Ali tried to change the world, he changed my mind as well. I very much appreciate the man. They say his well-known mantra, “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee,” speaks as well to his life philosophy as his boxing and it shares much in common with a gem from another great man from America’s past, President Teddy Roosevelt, who said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”

These axioms suggest we go about our business gently and quietly, but to also be willing to be powerful when the situation requires it. I take the sentiment as a truth, or at least good advice, especially when you consider what the opposite suggests. I saw it in my dog, Skipper, my friend Kelly and many others since. It’s good form. To close, a poem by Ali on the subject of truth.

Truth

The face of truth is open, the eyes of truth are bright The lips of truth are ever closed, the head of truth is upright The breast of truth stands forward, the gaze of truth is straight Truth has never fear or doubt, truth has patience to wait The words of truth are touching, the voice of truth is deep The law of truth is simple, all you sow – you reap The soul of truth is flaming, the heart of truth is warm The mind of truth is clear and firm through rain and storm Facts are only its shadow, truth stands above all sin Great be the battle of life, truth in the end shall win The image of truth is the cross, wisdom’s message is its rod The sign of truth is Christ, and the soul of truth is God Life of truth is eternal, immortal is its past The power of truth shall endure, truth shall hold to the last.

Leo is retired and lives in rural Cook with his wife, Lindy. He is the author of three books, She Won’t Mow the Daisies, The Cabin Experience, and Life Over Easy. Leo can be contacted by email at llwilenius@gmail.com.