WATCH: Donald Trump once shared the ring with Muhammad Ali celebrating the legend before commencing Mike Tyson’s much-anticipated fight
Donald Trump organized a star-studded event for the Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks fight. Muhammad Ali was the guest of honor at the event.
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Donald Trump and Muhammad Ali (via: express.co.uk)
Approximately 35 years ago, the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, hosted one of the highest-profile sporting events in history, at least in terms of attendance. The event was a celebrity boxing match between the heavyweight fighters Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks. Furthermore, the bout was held at Atlantic City’s Convention Center on July 27, 1988.
It appears that the evening was more focused on Hollywood glamour, with Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, and host Larry King seated in adjacent seats. Nicholson and Beatty had previously teamed up with the musician Paul Simon for a few minutes before taking their seats. Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Larry Holmes were the representatives from the boxing world. Prior to the start of the bout, Trump, accompanied by Ali, raised his hands triumphantly in the ring. Subsequently, everyone present at the event acknowledged the champion status and greatness of Ali.
The match was brief, but it didn’t really matter since it was a star-studded event where everyone wanted to be there. It was a PR stunt for him, and the event’s significance will forever remain in history. Chuck Norris, Gene Hackman, and Richard Pryor from Hollywood also attended the event.
Furthermore, Billy Crystal and film director, Rob Reiner, also attended the event. Subsequently, the star-studded event included Robin, who is Tyson’s first wife; Jack Lemmon; Redd Foxx; and Stephen King, who was also there with his son. The bout did not last long as Tyson secured a finish under 100 seconds to excite the crowd.
Muhammad Ali’s statement to Donald Trump
During his tenure, President Trump’s list of critics and enemies grew steadily over the years. Furthermore, he is well known for his political radicalism, which was seen when he endorsed a total and complete shutdown of Muslims from entering the USA.
Former World Heavyweight Champion and the greatest boxer of all time, Ali, once made a statement about Trump’s proposal. As a Muslim, Ali strongly condemned Trump’s problematic approach to this situation. Subsequently, Ali stressed that Muslims need to stay united and stand against people who use Islam to advance their personal agendas.
In the 1960s, Ali converted to Islam shortly after he stunned the world and beat Sonny Liston in the heavyweight championship of the United States. Ali, whose trash-talking was as much part of his charm as his boxing, captivated millions of people during his prime. Trump and Ali once had a good relationship. However, it deteriorated during Trump’s Presidential campaign and Ali sadly passed away before the duo could resolve their issues.
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