Wladimir Klitschko, the heavyweight champion of the world, walked over to Laila Ali, and with a world-class smile exclaimed, ‘Laila, come take a picture with me!’ ”
Ali broke out into a big smile herself and said, “I missed hearing you speak, but I think what you’re doing is great.”
What Klitschko is doing is following in the footsteps of Ali’s father, the legendary Muhammad. In 1974, Ali knocked out George Foreman in Zaire, a country many Americans had never heard of until it hosted the first heavyweight championship bout in Africa.
Ali’s status rose from that of a great American boxing champion to one of a great sports ambassador to the world. The images of Ali running through the streets of Zaire followed by hundreds of smiling children remains one of boxing’s proudest moments.
Klitschko recently took his own journey to Africa with officials of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He spent a week in Namibia visiting villages so poverty stricken that he said the average family with seven children only expects two to survive.
“I did not cry, but I felt something turn in my heart,” said Klitschko.
Klitschko said he’ll donate proceeds of every ticket purchased for his Nov. 11 championship bout against Calvin Brock in the Garden to UNESCO. Klitschko guaranteed to make a minimum donation of $250,000.
“The world is a smaller place because of planes, the Internet and cell phones,” said Klitschko. “We have to learn to act differently. One country’s problems are the world’s problems.”
Laila Ali agreed. She recently visited Capetown, which is vastly more developed than Namibia, and was humbled by the shantytowns she saw.
“My father told me when he fought in Zaire, he never expected it to change his life and the lives of so many others as it did,” Laila Ali told The Post. “I think what Wladimir is doing is great. I hope more people in his position – actors, singers, athletes – give back. We think our problems are so bad and they’re nothing compared to what other people face.”
