By John F. McKenna (McJack): Muhammad Ali’s career has been hashed and rehashed over the past several decades, but it’s fair to say that he was one of the top heavyweight champions of all time. In his fight with George Foreman in Zaire (The Rumble in the Jungle) Ali demonstrated his greatness, perhaps more so than in any other fight.

His tactical brilliance against Foreman was unsurpassed. In the lead up to the Foreman fight trainer Angelo Dundee prophesied how the fight would go. He said in an interview six months prior to the fight that Ali would stay away from the muscular Foreman until he wore himself out and then after about eight rounds he would get him. Angelo’s prophesy could not have been more on the mark, as he bounced off the ropes in the 8th round to land the knockout blow.

One of the things that made Ali such a great fighter was his self confidence. Before the Foreman fight, even his own handlers, with the exception of Dundee, did not believe that the 32 year old Ali would be able to prevail against the powerhouse that was George Foreman. On the way into the ring in Zaire, Ali turned around and chastised his corner people who walked dejectedly behind him. He lifted the spirits of his own people who did not believe in him. Everyone knows the story of how Foreman round after round flailed away as Ali laid on the ropes waiting for big George to wear himself out as he ultimately did just as Dundee had predicted.

Going back to Ali’s decision not to be drafted into the service, whether it was a right or wrong decision, no one can question his courage in deciding to defy the government’s edict to for him to be drafted. He knew in his heart that it could well have been the end of his boxing career. It is ironic that most of his greatest victories came after his 3 ½ years of exile. When he lost to Joe Frazier in March of 1971 many people thought that Ali was through. I remember watching the fight on closed circuit TV in Cherry Hill, NJ. When “Smokin’ Joe” caught Ali with that huge left hook in the 15th round I thought it was all over and was amazed when he got up. It showed great courage in a fight in which he was well behind. I remember rooting for Ali but giving Frazier 11 of the 15 rounds.

To his credit Muhammad came back from the beating he received that night to go on and achieve his greatest victories. Like the other great fighters before him Ali became an international celebrity. Who can forget the dramatic scene as he performed the torch lighting ceremony at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is in good company as he joins the fighters who have gone before him to become great fighters while also becoming international celebrities. Manny’s accomplishments in the ring are well known and irrefutable. His winning championships in 8 different divisions and winning fighter of the decade for the period covering 2000 to 2009 are big time major accomplishments. He has won awards in boxing almost too numerous to mention. What makes Manny so unique and so easy to like is his humility.

Pacquiao, who rose from poverty off the streets of the Philippines, weighed just 108 pounds when he began his professional boxing career 15 years ago. He worked his way up to where he fights now at welterweight through hard word and self discipline. He has also chosen to become involved in politics in his native country and presently serves as a Congressman in Sarangani Province. Manny intends to pursue higher political office after his retirement in another couple of years. It has been reported that because Manny is now an international entity that wealthy businessmen from around the world are courting him in an effort to get him to fight in their countries.

One thing common in all the fighters mentioned is that they all had indomitable will, extraordinary self confidence, they are all charismatic and all had the desire to fight and defeat the best fighters of their generation.