Boxing Spotlight: The Muhammad Ali Song

I love my position as Assistant Editor. On one hand, I get to associate with and learn from the biggest names this sport has to offer. On the other hand, I get to scratch my creative itch and showcase my mumbo jumbo for the world to read. Yes folks, life as an Assistant Editor is a good

one indeed, although there are the occasional moments that have me scratching my head in wonder.

You see as an Assistant Editor, I am easily accessible. This of course is mainly due to the fact my e-mail address is available on the front page. So, I often get a nutty proposition offering me some type of financial award for my help in the persons cause.

Now, I don’t know if they actually believe the title Assistant Editor make me someone with real clout or that my name gives off the “Sucker” vibe, but either way these dreamers seem to feel the urge to offer me the once in a lifetime opportunities.

For example, I had received an e-mail entitled “Help the Boxers”. So, I somehow thought it had something to do with a charity type event. Was I right? Well, in a way I guess. The gentleman who had sent it was filing a lawsuit against the sport of boxing for copyright infringement. His case was the sport had ripped off the name of the popular pure bread dog breed without written consent.

The guy stated that the breed was in existence longer than the sport and the name was used due to the familiar fighting style. If I helped promote his lawsuit and sway some articles pointing in his favor, there would be a handsome 3% of the take deposited into my account. My reaction? “Oh Yeah! Honey, we have the kid’s college tuition money”.

Then there was the fellow who wanted to promote his new boxing organization. With my help, he figured we could make it an overnight success. Now, his angle was that the fighters would have spikes on the tips of their shoes like in the 1500’s. When a guy kicked his opponent, they would bend down to grab their aching shin, giving him an opportunity for a few free shots to the head.

My reward in helping get it off the ground? I would be the official voice of the sport and do all the announcing along with the ringside commentary. My reaction? “In your face, Michael Buffer”.

A few weeks ago, I received an odd e-mail titled “Ali Song”. My initial though was “Great, now I can join the music business”. Yet, for some unexplained reason, just as I was about to hit the spam button curiosity got the better of me and I opened it in anticipation of another wacky scheme offered to me. To my surprise, I was wrong.

The letter was sent by a man named Udi Verma. Udi was a poet and family man from just outside of London, England. He had written a poem about Muhammad Ali some time ago honoring the ring legend in the way Ali liked best. Poetry! Of course, Udi’s poem was a little more refined then “The Great One’s” classics but a poem ,none the less.

Once finished with his ,Ode Udi had decided proudly to share the dedication with some friends. That’s when one of them suggested to him that it might make for a good song. After some deliberation, Udi agreed and that’s when he contacted Paul Lane, a music teacher from outside West London.

After some meetings and word changes, the duo prepared to lay down the track. Paul had given Udi some guitar lessons to practice on while he prepared his home music studio ,creating the rhythm for the song. From then on out, the team met every day to collaborate Udi’s poetry into a modern tune that everyone can relate to. Paul’s experience allowed them to have a finished product that could rival any big time music studio’s.

With their creation on disc, Paul and Udi headed towards the people they had wanted most to hear it. The boxing public. The song had captured the life of Ali both inside and outside the ring. It brags of his accomplishments and It tells of his times of woe outside the ring. From the days of beating Liston, to capturing his first title, to his upset loss to Leon Spinks.

Ali is forever put into immortality once again through song. The upbeat tempo appeals to all kinds of listeners while the words give it a Dylan type of feel. Before long, the WBC had gotten a copy of the tune and liked it so much that they now have it linked to their website. They will be unveiling it at a public relation function later this year.

Udi and Paul stated that the most important thing they wanted to do was capture the life of Ali. They wanted to help bring back a moment of that golden era in boxing, even if just for a few minutes. They wanted to catch the interest of the younger fans while reminding older ones.

In my opinion, they have done just that. It is a song that gives you a step by step replay of the famous heavyweight champion to ever grace the ring. Both good and bad. It is a song that lets the listener know; Ali, He Was The Greatest!

To hear Udi Verma and Paul Lane’s tribute to Ali, visit their MySpace site. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=120950291