‘Get out of my division!’ – How Muhammad Ali changed John Conteh’s boxing career

Former world champion John Conteh has revealed how Muhammad Ali changed his boxing career.

The late Ali is remembered as one of the most inspirational figures of the 20th century, as well as arguably the greatest boxer of all time.

So when the legendary American talked, everybody listened.

Back in 1973, a 22-year-old Conteh got the chance to rub shoulders with Ali and pick the great man's brains.

Featuring on the undercard for Ali's fight against Joe Bugner in Las Vegas, Conteh approached Ali for some advice, having just started out in the heavyweight division.

And what Ali said would change the course of Conteh's career.

Speaking at Maurice Newman's charity golf day for Great Ormond Street in Essex, Conteh told talkSPORT: "For me, Muhammad Ali is the greatest ever.

"My management billed me as a heavyweight, but I was never a heavyweight. As I trained harder, I kept coming down. 

"I was never enough. They’re not only big, they’ve got to punch their weight as well. 

"I asked him for some advice in Las Vegas, when he fought Joe Bugner and I was on the undercard.

"I was still campaigning as a heavyweight, and I was introduced to him as a heavyweight on our press day. 

"I went up to him and asked, ‘Muhammad, can you give me some advice please?’ 

"And he said, ‘Yeah, get out of my division!’ So I did. 

"I came back to London and fought for the European title at light heavyweight."

And Conteh didn't stop there. After claiming European glory, he would go on to become world champion of the light heavyweight division by beating Jorge Ahumada just a year after Ali's advice.

So like most things Ali said during his fascinating life, it turned out to be pretty spot on.