In a poignant interview with Khaleej Times, Rasheda Ali Walsh, daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, offered intimate insights into her father’s multifaceted legacy that extended far beyond athletic achievement. Visiting Dubai with her professional boxer son Nico Ali Walsh and husband Robert Walsh, Ali reflected on the humanitarian principles that defined her father’s life.
As a published author, public speaker, and Parkinson’s awareness advocate (the condition that ultimately claimed her father’s life), Rasheda serves as patron of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Centre. She described her father as someone who ‘transcended boxing’ and never separated his beliefs from his actions, demonstrating remarkable consistency between principle and practice.
The conversation highlighted Ali’s historic refusal of military draft during the Vietnam War due to moral convictions—a decision that cost him his heavyweight title, resulted in a three-year boxing ban, and initially brought draft evasion charges. Rasheda characterized this stance as potentially ‘career suicide’ that defied his handlers’ advice, yet ultimately inspired countless individuals through his unwavering commitment to religious and ethical principles.
Beyond his activist legacy, Muhammad Ali revolutionized boxing’s popularity, becoming what his daughter described as ‘the first self-promoter’ who attracted women, children, and non-traditional audiences to the sport. His charismatic appeal combined with social consciousness created a unique cultural impact that transformed how athletes engage with societal issues.
The Dubai setting held special significance for the family, as Muhammad Ali had established meaningful relationships there during his 1970 visit, shortly before Rasheda’s birth. Now witnessing her son continue the boxing tradition in the UAE, Rasheda acknowledged the region’s growing importance in combat sports while reflecting on how her father’s values continue to resonate across generations and geographies.