Ali And His Educators

I had trouble hitting him; he was very fast. I threw a couple of low punches just to let him know I was there. The first time I hit him low, his eyes went as big as saucers. I was going to bite his ear. You know when you are in the clinches you get the guy's ear between your teeth and give it a little tug, that usually would bring water to their eyes. Deep down, though, I never really had it to motivate myself to go into the ring and beat someone to pulp. But I would walk 10 miles to get into a barroom brawl; I used to love it. I'm quite happy now. I'm not bitter about anything. I have a good wife, a good job, I'm in good health, I have a good life.

I don't think Ali was the greatest I fought. Howard King, he was the best.

ALEX MITEFF
Limousine-service owner, New York City

He was a young kid who didn't have much to say. It was after he fought me that he started his predictions. I think back now and say to myself I have known two very great men. The first was the ex-President of my country, Argentina, Juan Perón, and the other is Muhammad Ali. He was no puncher, he didn't punch hard at all. But he had me on the canvas in the sixth round. The referee stopped the fight.

I hated boxing. The managers and promoters treat you like a piece of meat. At home in my country there was just the manager and he was the trainer also. Here everybody is trying to get a slice of you. I thought that boxing was a good way of making some quick money. I didn't enjoy being punched on the head and risking permanent damage.

Ali and I became friends after we fought. He and I were in a movie together. It was called Requiem for a Heavyweight, with Anthony Quinn. I was the double for Quinn and All was the guy who knocks him out. He was like a little kid, always asking for autographs. He even asked one of the stars, I think it was either Jackie Gleason or Mickey Rooney, to sign a $100 bill for him.

Ali was right in making his stand against the war. The black people should pray for him because he has done so much for the poor people.

GEORGE LOGAN
Truant officer, Boise, Idaho

I gave up fighting because I was turned off by the whole cotton-picking thing. Many times some drunk would call me up in the middle of the night and say, "Hey, Logan, come on down here, I'll whip your butt off."

If Ali had gone to fight for his country, there would be no question, no doubt, that he was the greatest.