12:00a.m. 13th May 2008

Meeting Muhammad Ali would be a major thrill for most lovers of sport.

How about meeting Ali in the lounge room of his Kentucky home and having another former world boxing champion, Lennox Lewis, walk in as well?

That’s the dreamlike situation Sunshine Coast businessman and fight promoter Richard Fogarty and his brother Robert found themselves in the start of the month.

They had been invited some months ago to travel to the United States for a special lunch at Ali’s home to support the Ali Centre, a charity they have joined as members.

Fogarty said he had a passion to help children on the Sunshine Coast who have been diagnosed with illness, been abused, or just need something in their lives to be inspired.

“This is what the Ali centre is about. Kids and adults getting inspired to do good for one another and to be inspired in life to succeed themselves,” he said.

“As I sat down in Ali’s lounge talking to Lonnie Ali (Muhammad’s wife) about how the centre was going, in walked another great of boxing, Lennox Lewis, standing 6’6 and still well built.

“He also introduced himself to me and my brother and took up a seat on the lounge.

“The discussion was focused on the Ali centre and how things were going and what are the future events that are happening.”

After about two hours of talking and lunch, Lewis presented Ali and his wife a cheque for $40,000 that he had won on the TV show The Apprentice.

Fogarty said he had brought the inspiration from his day to remember back to the Coast and plans to hold charity auctions, promote sporting events and host gala dinners for children in need.

“Being at his home was such an eye opener,” he said.

“It’s still a bit hard to believe it happened.”

Share this