By Michael Marley
OUISVILLE--His clever footwork isn't what it used to be. Come Aug. 30, Angelo Dundee will turn 91 years old and, while his mind and memory remain sharp as a tack, he's often confined to a wheelchair.
The Hall Of Fame trainer even jokes about his mobility.
"I am going after all the boxing commissions, I want them to put in escalators at ringside so I can keep working the corners for fighters," Dundee told me over breakfast at the Galt House Saturday morning.
Dundee flew in from Clearwater, Fl., along with his son, Jimmy, for the greatest of all the many world champions he worked with.
Or should I capitalize that and say The Greatest? Dundee will be at the Muhammad Ali Center, the nifty museum dedicated to the tumultous life and times of Cassius Clay who became Muhammad Ali, this evening to mark Lousiville's most famous native son's 70th birthday (Ali's actual birthday is Tuesday).
"I had to be here, I had to be here for my man, the great, great man and great, great fighter. He's always been such a special guy," Dundee said.
About 350 friends, family members and supporters of Ali will turn out at the museum hard by the Ohio River to honor the three time world heavyweight champion.
Among the big names on the guest list for the $1,000 a plate dinner, which benefits the museum, will be former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and rock star and fight fan John Mellencamp, who lives across the big river in Indiana.
Put a gold star next to Lewis' name as he is not only attending the dinner, the ex-champion has his name on a wall of top donors. Lewis donated a cool $250,000 to the museum, which promotes li's lifelong mission of peace, love and understanding among people worldwide.
It will be another great ride down Memory Lane for Dundee and for all who meet and greet the always gregarious trainer.
Dundee naturally harkened back to February, 1957, when he brought future light heavyweight champion Willie Pastrano to this city to fight Jack Holman at the State Fairgrounds.
The phone kept buzzing in Pastrano's hotel room and, since the boxer ignored it, Dundee took the call.
What he heard was a hyperactive teenager, who had just turned 15 years old a few weeks before. The excitable kid started reciting all the Golden Gloves and other amateur victories he had and predicted he would win a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
"I listened to him but I didn't think too much of it," Dundee said, laughing. "But the kid was in the hotel lobby and I let him come up to talk to us for a few minutes."
Three years later, the brash then named Cassius Marcellus did win Olympic gold. He then began his magnificent pro career with Dundee, just like he remains in 2012, in his corner literally and figuratively.
Looking back, Dundee said there was one hurdle that caused him some concern.
"When Cassius changed his name was a little worried. You could rhyme so many words with Clay but what can you rhyme with Muhammad?" Dundee said, smiling.
They made so much rich history together, the Italian American guy from South Philly and the African American who came to symbolize righteous opposition to the war in Vietnam.
And, on this windy and chilly night in Louisville, they will take some bows.
They have both recently died but I like to think that both Smoking Joe Frazier and Ron Lyle would get a kick out of that, seeing Ali with Dundee at his side.
And wait until the athletic commissions install those escalators in the corners.
