Comments Thread For: Lennox Lewis, Will Smith Will Be Pallbearers at Ali's Funeral

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will be a pallbearer at Muhammad Ali's funeral, along with Hollywood star Will Smith. The funeral is to be held in his hometown of Louisville at 2pm local time on Friday. Lewis, who reigned as undisputed world heavyweight champion after beating Evander Holyfield in 1999, was on Monday night named as a pallbearer - as was Smith, who was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Ali in the 2001 film of the same name.
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[UNBIASED BOXING]

Why Lennox Lewis? Not that I'm hating--- just curious. I could somewhat understand Will Smith, as he played Ali and probably did genuinely connect with Ali.

[deathofaclown]

Why Lennox Lewis? Not that I'm hating--- just curious. I could somewhat understand Will Smith, as he played Ali and probably did genuinely connect with Ali.

I was wondering that too.

If i was going to think of any fighter of the last 20/30 years that it would be, i'd have thought Tyson. Ali and Tyson seemed to get along and in the very few interviews Ali did, he always had good things to say about Tyson.

I don't think i've ever heard of any kind of friendship between Ali and Lewis before. I'm sure there must have been if the family have asked him.

[Jimmy 23]

Ali was Lewis's idol and Lennox was last undisputed heavyweight champion.A good choice
I will never forget what Muhammad Ali said to me when I was undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He said to me; ‘I used to be ‘The Greatest’. Now you are ‘The Greatest’.’

[Jimmy 23]

Lennox:
I might have become the emperor of boxing in my time, but he remained The Greatest. He was involved in a time when he did so much, inside and outside of the ring: he stood up against the Vietnam War, segregation, he created a legacy outside boxing. That’s what makes him ‘The Greatest’, because he stood up for those things. He showed you can stand up, you do not have to be a puppet, you can stick to your beliefs. His beliefs won over law and politics. He’ll always be ‘The Greatest’.

Muhammad Ali inspired me to chase my dreams in and out of the ring. He meant a great deal to me. I kind of fashioned my whole career after him. Watching him on television as a youngster really did something to me.

I loved his flashiness, I loved what he stood for, like going against America in the Vietnam War. I loved the fact that he always had helpful advice, was a nice man that he was very religious, that he wanted to help people.

My mum used to have fight parties when Ali fought, and friends and family would come over. All I wanted to see as a kid was the Muhammad Ali shuffle.
We also wanted to see what kind if antics he was going to get up to. I loved to see him and Howard Cosell go at it, you never knew what Howard Cosell was going to say. Other things influenced me: because he fought in Africa I wanted to fight in Africa. I wanted to follow him.

Even later in life, I loved watching When We Were Kings, a great episode of his life depicting ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’ against George Foreman. You almost felt you were there because of the way they shot the film. You could see from the footage what Ali meant to the rest of the world. He was really revered around the planet.

I watched and studied all the heavyweights, but Ali was the main guy. He showed you the sweet science of the sport; he showed you how important it was to be fast and nimble on your feet. And how to walk the walk, and talk the talk.

For me, he should be considered the greatest sportsman of all time because of what he achieved putting boxing on the platform it got, and for paving the way for other athletes like myself. So many athletes in so many sports would not have become symbols in their sports if it had not been for him.

I met him many times during my career, and afterwards. Every time we met, there was a common respect. He teased, made jokes, liked to be a magician and was always fun. I never saw him in a bad mood. Or upset. I always felt honoured to be in his presence.

[THC]

George Foreman as a pallbearer feels good to me.

Actually, boxers-only crew would be best.

George is an ordained minister. Not ******, but he would add a lot to the ceremony if he could speak on Ali's life.

[Weltschmerz]

I was wondering that too.

If i was going to think of any fighter of the last 20/30 years that it would be, i'd have thought Tyson. Ali and Tyson seemed to get along and in the very few interviews Ali did, he always had good things to say about Tyson.

I don't think i've ever heard of any kind of friendship between Ali and Lewis before. I'm sure there must have been if the family have asked him.

This is not meant as a joke but maybe Tyson is too short.

[deathofaclown]

This is not meant as a joke but maybe Tyson is too short.

Haha that actually went through my mind.

When my old man died, we had to think of a good excuse as to why his friend couldn't be one. Me and the others doing it were about 6'1 roughly and his friend was about 5'8" and one leg shorter than the other and had a bad limp. Would have been a bit difficult. Thankfully he kind of new and suggested it before we said anything, obviously knowing it would save us the awkwardness.

I'm still surprised Lewis is. You rarely if ever hear his name mentioned with Ali on a personal level, or i haven't anyway.

[Weltschmerz]

Haha that actually went through my mind.

When my old man died, we had to think of a good excuse as to why his friend couldn't be one. Me and the others doing it were about 6'1 roughly and his friend was about 5'8" and one leg shorter than the other and had a bad limp. Would have been a bit difficult. Thankfully he kind of new and suggested it before we said anything, obviously knowing it would save us the awkwardness.

I'm still surprised Lewis is. You rarely if ever hear his name mentioned with Ali on a personal level, or i haven't anyway.

Surprised about Lewis too. It's a great honor for Lennox, obviously.

[Kris Silver]

God were like the gossiping folk at the back of a funeral here “Why is so and so a pall bearer, mahamamamaa”.

None of our business fella’s, we don’t own Ali or any input. His family would have either directly asked, provided a list, or at very least be quite happy with whom are pall bearers.

Voicing opinion on whom should pall bear is poor taste, were aren’t privy or close enough to it and them.