Gone but not forgotten: Grief-stricken Lyariites recall Ali’s famous visits

The ‘People’s Champ’ came to Karachi twice and Lyari has fond memories

KARACHI: Lyari mourned legendary American boxer Muhammad Ali’s death as if he was one of their own, with some even planning a special mass for his spiritual benefit.

Known as ‘The Greatest’ and the ‘People’s Champ’, Ali visited Pakistan in 1989, and many Lyariites, who met him back then, spoke fondly of his charisma, personality and the impact he had on their lives.

Hussain Shah, Pakistan’s only Olympic medal-winning boxer, who also hails from Lyari, recalled his meeting with Ali as the most incredible moment of his life.



“I met him in 1989 in Islamabad, and it changed my life and also my game,” Hussain told The Express Tribune. “I was a boy in Lyari and I remember staying up till morning to watch his fights on TV. He was my hero. He was a different human being altogether.”

Shah, who is now settled in Japan, continued: “He went to Lyari too. He told me that I should improve my footwork and use more jabs. I took his tips to heart and my game improved by leaps and bounds.”

Similarly, Malang Baloch, a Lyariite who represented Pakistan at the 1972 Olympics, still tells his children about his interaction with Ali when he visited his boxing-mad neighbourhood in 1988.



“I’m very sad because Ali was something else. He was very kind. I still have his posters and one of my daughters want to become a women’s world champion just like Ali’s daughter Laila Ali,” said Malang.

Malang’s daughter Gul Jabeen also shared her father’s sorrow. “I feel really sad too. We’ve heard so many stories of Ali that we feel we knew him. He inspires us too.”



For Sindh Boxing Association Secretary Asghar Baloch, Ali’s demise feels like a personal loss. “It’s just like we lost one of our own,” said Asghar.

He further said: “Boxing represented him, instead of him representing the sport. He is still an idol for us all and so there will be regular prayers for him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2016.

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