TRIBUTES have been paid to the legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee who has passed away at the age of 90.
Mr. Dundee trained a number of champions during long career but he will always be linked with Muhammad Ali.
His association with Ali began in 1960 when as Cassius Clay the young fighter was preparing for his second professional bout.
Their association was to prove one of the most successful in the history of boxing. Ali went on to become World Champion for the first time in February 1964 in his famous bout with Sonny Liston.
The pair’s strong professional bond was to remain in place for the duration of Ali’s career and was unaffected by the controversy surrounding Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War.
There were times when Ali faced difficulties in fights but Mr. Dundee was there to cajole or berate him to victory. On the occasion in 1963 when Henry Cooper felled Ali during their non-title bout in London, it was Mr. Dundee who saved the day. In the confusion he guided the dazed Ali to his corner and battled to get his fighter to re-focus. With time running out a cut in one of Ali’s gloves was spotted. The delay this caused was long enough for the Ali to regain his composure. Mr. Dundee always denied he had cut the glove deliberately.
Many other boxers benefited from Mr. Dundee’s immense skills. During his long career he worked with 15 world champions, including Sugar Ray Leonard, José Nápoles, George Foreman, Jimmy Ellis and Willie Pastrano.
When Mr. Dundee wrote his autobiography, My View From The Corner: A Life In Boxing, Muhammad Ali wrote in the foreword: “He let me be exactly who I wanted to be, and he was loyal. That is the reason I love Angelo.”
To view an interview with Angelo Dundee click here.
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