Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s name will always be remembered as one of the greatest figures in not only the annals of boxing but also among the list of the greatest men to ever live. He became an internationally celebrated boxer and earned millions of dollars during his storied and long fighting career. After his death, his nine children were to inherit the $80 million fortune he left them. Still, Muhammad Ali Jr., his son, was forced to pawn his father’s renowned robe for a few hundred dollars.
In a resurfaced video online, Muhammad Ali Jr. can be seen entering the Gold family’s pawn store to exchange his father’s iconic robe. Since 1978, the Gold family has operated a successful business, and the outstanding deals are even featured on the truTV reality show Hardcore Pawn. Anyway, the sight of the famed boxer’s son in such dire straits saddened people’s hearts when they saw the clip.
From Riches to Rags
Muhammad Ali Jr. is the only biological son of the nine children of Muhammad Ali. However, he has faced numerous challenges throughout his life, including bullying, drug abuse, poverty, and family issues. He was supposed to get $6 million from the $80 million ‘The Greatest’ left for his children. He claimed his family left him in financial difficulties while leading an opulent lifestyle, and he never received what was promised after his father’s death.
After seeing Ali Jr.’s condition, the pawn shop owner remarked, “His son had fallen on hard times, and this was the last bit of memorabilia he had from his dad. You felt really bad for him because he was quite honest. He said, ‘I haven’t seen my dad in a really long time, and I just need some money, and this is his robe from this picture’.”
The former boxer’s son even brought a picture of Ali and Joe Frazier together, where Ali is seen wearing that robe. The garment that Ali Jr. brought and the one in the picture appeared to be identical. However, the proprietors of the pawn shop continued to doubt the robe’s authenticity. In the end, the deal closed at $500. See how fans reacted after watching the video.
Netizens feel sympathy for Muhammad Ali’s son
The comments section was cluttered with reactions from fans after seeing the video. While some expressed sympathy for Ali Jr., others found it difficult to understand why he had to sell the renowned robe for such a small sum. After seeing the robe getting sold for $500, one Muhammad Ali fan exclaimed, “I’d give him 700 for it… and I’m not into boxing. It’s Ali!!”
These kinds of things are typically preserved by families by keeping them in silk boxes, like expensive jewelry. It was difficult to witness the robe leaving the family. As one netizen put it, “Man, sad to see it leave the family.”
Muhammad Ali’s antiquities can bring thousands of dollars at auction. The most costly gloves are actually the ones he used in his 1965 fight with Floyd Patterson. The UFC’s former CEO, Lorenzo Fertitta, spent an incredible $1.1 million on it. Fans know that the robe is much more valuable than $500, and has an emotional value to it. Knowing this, someone wrote, “Pawning that hurts to see.”
Even if a fan would get the robe from Ali as a gift, he/she would not have sold it at any cost. One such fan said, “No way in hell would I get rid of that. That’s BS!”
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Ali Jr. can be seen negotiating at the pawn shop. He started by asking $2500, then came down to $700. After watching the robe getting negotiated for $600, one fan commented, “That better be 600 thousand…”
The sight of Muhammad Ali Jr. pawning his father’s iconic white robe for a mere $500 is a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding the lives of the children of legendary figures. Despite his father’s illustrious legacy and global recognition, Ali Jr.’s actions underscore the stark contrast between fame and personal circumstances. The clip serves as a sad reflection on how even the most celebrated names can face personal struggles and financial hardships. It is a somber tale of how the sheen of fame can sometimes be overshadowed by the harsh realities of life, making Ali Jr.’s plight all the more heartrending.
What are your thoughts on the son of Muhammad Ali and his coercive circumstances to sell his father’s iconic robe? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
