Why Muhammad Ali's star is on the wall, not the Walk of Fame

In a break from tradition, Muhammad Ali’s star was mounted on the wall instead of the pavement

Muhammad Ali was a cut above the rest.

Among over 2,000 names honoured on a sidewalk in Hollywood, his Walk of Fame Star hangs above all others, and not on the floor for anyone to step on.



In 2002, the legendary boxer was honoured with a star on the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame like many other famous sportsmen, actor and musicians.

In a break from tradition, his star was mounted on the wall instead of the pavement known as ‘Hollywood Walk of Fame’ which runs along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

Ali’s star was mounted on the wall as he said he did not want his name to be walked on by “people who have no respect for me”.

“I bear the name of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and it is impossible that I allow people to trample over his name," he said.



The former boxer’s star was granted after the committee decided that boxing could be considered a form of “live performance” and a contribution to the entertainment industry. The Hollywood Walk of Fame comprises more than 2,500 stars embedded in sidewalks.

Heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a 20th Century icon whose fame transcended sport during a remarkable career that spanned three decades, died Friday.



The 74-year-old sports hero, who had been battling Parkinson’s disease for decades, passed away in a hospital here where he had been admitted earlier this week suffering from respiratory problems.

This article originally appeared on the Independent.