Some dates stay eked in memory. Wake me up and mention Muhamamad Ali and I would utter January 31, 1980, with the words, “Lifetime achievement.” Achievement, isn’t it? When being an amateur boxer you get on the ring for a bout with the best and come out alive!
Events that led to the bout are what make you believe in destiny. I, state boxing champion the previous year, was slated to fight Jimmy Ellis, Ali’s opponent in the exhibition fight, before the main one. However, (the then chief minister) MGR arrived and things had to be rushed. Organisers went ahead with the main draw of the evening.
There I was, in trainers and boxing gloves on, and devoid of a chance. The spirit of boxing got to me and I asked Ali for a bout. He was generous enough to accept a round. Ali almost landed a punch, and I ducked in time. Had it caught me, I probably would be dead. It was like a bullet. After the bout, Ali mentioned me as a ‘promising boxer’ in India.
Three months later, I landed a job in the Railways, as ‘khalasi’ at Loco Works, Perambur, on sports quota thanks to boxing. That’s another date, I remember — April 7, 1980.
There was a brief interaction. I was fresh out of winning the state championships and silver in the nationals the previous year. After the bout, I told him, “You’re the greatest. But I’m the latest star in Tamil Nadu,” and let out a hearty laugh.
Whenever I tell the story, people invariably ask me, “Did you manage to land a punch?” Are they serious? I don’t know. But there was not even a chance. He was this huge man. I tell them one thing each and every time, “That’s what you call ‘Mama’s Blessing! From a wayward teenager who took to alcoholism to an exhibition bout with Ali at the age of 23, it was all Mama’s blessings.
Did I tell you my favourite boxer was Sugar Ray Leonard?
(The writer is a former state boxing champion, who took part in exhibition bout with Muhammed Ali in 1980. He spoke to Srikkanth Dhasarathy)