Clinton hails Ali’s impact on boxing

MUHAMMAD Ali’s talent, charisma and strong principles were responsible for raising boxing’s popularity across the world, according to former US president Bill Clinton.
Clinton also credited Ali, who turned 70 yesterday, with helping pave the way for Barack Obama to become the country’s first black president.

‘He made millions of people believe. He was something unique,’ said Clinton.Three-time world heavyweight champion Ali won 56 bouts over a 21-year career.He also made plenty of headlines outside of the ring with his sharp words and refusal to take part in the Vietnam War.But Clinton believes his fellow American’s legacy will be the way he got the whole world talking about boxing again in the 1960s.’People had moved away from boxing. It was a huge deal in America in the 1940s and 1950s and then they wrote it off,’ he told BBC Sport boxing commentator Mike Costello.’Then here comes Muhammad Ali, first as Cassius Clay, looking like a ballerina in the boxing ring – reminding people it was a sport.’He made it exciting and meaningful again. He was entertaining and when he was younger he was always mouthing off. But it was part of his schtick.’He made it part theatre, part dance and all power.’ – bbc.co.uk