Boxing legend Muhammad Ali will be buried in the US state of Kentucky
later today [FRIDAY].
Since his death on Saturday the world has been paying tribute to the
man who managed to transcend the sport of boxing.
He influenced and inspired people worldwide with his caring, funny nature.
One place he touched was a boxing gym in New York, which he regularly
visited and trained at.
Our US Correspondent Nick Harper has been along to meet those who knew him.
IN: Muhammad Ali's globa
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2:58
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-arn.mp3
938 LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-938.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-fm4.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-von.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-rnz.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-ziz.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-gen.mp3
SABC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-sabc.mp3
TAKE VO
Muhammad Ali's global influence started here in this New York gym.
He trained at Gleason's for 10 weeks before his 1964 shock defeat of
world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston.
It made him a household name overnight.
natsound - "I am the Greatest"
TAKE VO
The gym has been a part of New York City for more than 80 years.
During his lifetime Ali became something of regular, training here for
6 other fights, and visiting the gym on 20 other occasions.
TAKE VO
John Douglas competed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Ali was watching
his fight ring side.
John Douglas, Boxer & trainer
"Oh wow it was amazing. Everybody forget about what they were doing,
they're staring at him. Nobody wanted to anything, ever. They just
wanted to look at him, see what he was doing, you know."
"So I go to the door to say hi to him and the crowd that he was with
pushed me away from him. You know what he did? He pushed all of them
away and grabbed me and hugged me. That thing it bring tears to my
eyes."
TAKE VO
Many of the boxers and trainers here have similar stories.
Of Ali's warmth, his caring attitude.
Bruce Silverglade is the owner of Gleason's Gym.
SOT - Silverglade
"When he came into Gleason's gym he would make sure he went around and
spoke to every single individual here. He loved the girls so he would
give all of the women a hug. But he made sure he acknowledged feller
that was here. He would take pictures with everybody, sign autographs,
he loved joking, he'd flick people behind the ear, he'd play with his
handkerchief and make it disappear. He was always looking to make
people laugh and smile."
TAKE VO
Muhammad Ali's influence spread well beyond the ring, he was an
inspiration to many people around the world. And mainly because he
stood up for the things he truly believed in.
Ali campaigned for the Civil Rights Movement, opposed the Vietnam War,
and converted to Islam, changing his name from Cassius Clay in the
process.
All of it helping to spread his influence far beyond the world of
boxing, to people like former boxer and trainer at Gleason's Gym, Gary
Mantle.
SOT - Mantle
Muhammad Ali, and some of the other greats they really helped me to
overcome certain things I'd been through in my life. Got my college
degree, a successful business career, so it all gensis-ed, so to
speak, through boxing and his influence."
TAKE VO
Elsewhere in New York, the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem has honored
the boxer, putting his name in lights.
TAKE VO
While a street next to Madison Square Garden, a landmark boxing venue,
has temporarily changed it's name to Muhammad Ali Way.
TAKE VO
His childhood home in Louisville, Kentucky has attracted fans from
around the world in the week since his death.
TAKE VO
And he'll be laid to rest in his hometown cemetery on Friday.
TAKE VO
But it's perhaps in the ring where he'll be remembered as the
greatest: boxer, influencer and champion of civil rights.
SOC
ENDS
later today [FRIDAY].
Since his death on Saturday the world has been paying tribute to the
man who managed to transcend the sport of boxing.
He influenced and inspired people worldwide with his caring, funny nature.
One place he touched was a boxing gym in New York, which he regularly
visited and trained at.
Our US Correspondent Nick Harper has been along to meet those who knew him.
IN: Muhammad Ali's globa
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2:58
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-arn.mp3
938 LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-938.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-fm4.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-von.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-rnz.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-ziz.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-gen.mp3
SABC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0609ali-nh-sabc.mp3
TAKE VO
Muhammad Ali's global influence started here in this New York gym.
He trained at Gleason's for 10 weeks before his 1964 shock defeat of
world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston.
It made him a household name overnight.
natsound - "I am the Greatest"
TAKE VO
The gym has been a part of New York City for more than 80 years.
During his lifetime Ali became something of regular, training here for
6 other fights, and visiting the gym on 20 other occasions.
TAKE VO
John Douglas competed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Ali was watching
his fight ring side.
John Douglas, Boxer & trainer
"Oh wow it was amazing. Everybody forget about what they were doing,
they're staring at him. Nobody wanted to anything, ever. They just
wanted to look at him, see what he was doing, you know."
"So I go to the door to say hi to him and the crowd that he was with
pushed me away from him. You know what he did? He pushed all of them
away and grabbed me and hugged me. That thing it bring tears to my
eyes."
TAKE VO
Many of the boxers and trainers here have similar stories.
Of Ali's warmth, his caring attitude.
Bruce Silverglade is the owner of Gleason's Gym.
SOT - Silverglade
"When he came into Gleason's gym he would make sure he went around and
spoke to every single individual here. He loved the girls so he would
give all of the women a hug. But he made sure he acknowledged feller
that was here. He would take pictures with everybody, sign autographs,
he loved joking, he'd flick people behind the ear, he'd play with his
handkerchief and make it disappear. He was always looking to make
people laugh and smile."
TAKE VO
Muhammad Ali's influence spread well beyond the ring, he was an
inspiration to many people around the world. And mainly because he
stood up for the things he truly believed in.
Ali campaigned for the Civil Rights Movement, opposed the Vietnam War,
and converted to Islam, changing his name from Cassius Clay in the
process.
All of it helping to spread his influence far beyond the world of
boxing, to people like former boxer and trainer at Gleason's Gym, Gary
Mantle.
SOT - Mantle
Muhammad Ali, and some of the other greats they really helped me to
overcome certain things I'd been through in my life. Got my college
degree, a successful business career, so it all gensis-ed, so to
speak, through boxing and his influence."
TAKE VO
Elsewhere in New York, the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem has honored
the boxer, putting his name in lights.
TAKE VO
While a street next to Madison Square Garden, a landmark boxing venue,
has temporarily changed it's name to Muhammad Ali Way.
TAKE VO
His childhood home in Louisville, Kentucky has attracted fans from
around the world in the week since his death.
TAKE VO
And he'll be laid to rest in his hometown cemetery on Friday.
TAKE VO
But it's perhaps in the ring where he'll be remembered as the
greatest: boxer, influencer and champion of civil rights.
SOC
ENDS