The widow of Muhammad Ali has spoken publicly for the first time since the boxing legend's funeral , revealing how The Greatest died “distressed” due to the problems of the world. Lonnie Ali said she was “hanging in here” since the 74-year-old’s death two months ago.
She was appearing on America’s Today programme today to launch the Ali 75, a programme to get
everyone to give 75 hours a year to helping others.
During the interview host Matt Lauer said Ali, who converted to Islam in the 60s, had sent him a message as “anti-Muslim rhetoric" grew following the deaths caused by ISIS discussing the “divisions" in the world.
Lonnie said: “He was pretty distressed especially by some of the things going on around the world because he felt we had crossed a line, crossed a barrier and he was a little disappointed with that.
“But Muhammad was a man of eternal optimism, he believed in the power of humanity and that is what he touched in most people.”
Ali’s widow had taken to national television to urge the boxer’s fans to become part of his legacy.
Announcing Ali 75 she said: “This was something I thought about for his birthday prior to his passing.
“The Ali 75, to give 75 hours to other.
“Because Muhammad had this saying ‘Service to others is the rent we pay for our room here on earth' and he lived that everyday of his life.
“Everyday of his life he believed that. That is actually the path he pursued.”
She said the boxer, also nicknamed the Louisville Lip, had said before his passing: “I want my death to be a teachable moment.”
Lonnie explained volunteers could do anything to help such taking a neighbour shopping or doing a five kilometre run for charity.
Discussing Ali’s funeral service she revealed: “We had planned for this for the last five or six years.© Provided by Mirror
“It Muhammad's wished that it be in an auditorium.
“I said ‘Muhammad, nobody does that,’ he goes ‘But I want all my fans to come,’ I said ‘OK’ so we did it.
“I really thought it would be about a thousand people but there was no way of preparing for the outpouring that we had.
“I was stunned at how many people were out in the city of Louisville and coming for all over every part of the world to be a part of this.”
Lonnie said since Ali’s death on June 3 she was “living each day with purpose”.
The former heavyweight champion, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease , died from sceptic shock while in a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
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