>> Yeah. >> Michael Jackson. >> Yeah. >> And the only white boy I saw who could sing good as he did WAS ELVIS PRESLEY. >> >> IF THIS IS THE KIND OF CONTENT YOU ENJOY, CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING. It’s a tiny action for you, but it means the world to creators who work hard to bring you these stories. Ali had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984.
But that didn’t stop him from connecting with the the during Elvis week in 1985. The boxing legend quickly won over Elvis fans >> >> when he spoke about one of his favorite Elvis songs, “Don’t Be Cruel”. Then, in a touching moment, Ali shared heartfelt memories about the man he considered a true inspiration.
As a teenager, Ali watched in amazement as Elvis exploded into stardom during his breakthrough year in 1956. The King’s rise left a huge impression on the future heavyweight champion. Ali later told author Tim Shanahan, >> >> “Other kids in the neighborhood were listening to Ray Charles and James Brown, but I listened to Elvis.
I admired him so much and I decided that if I was going to be famous, I’d do it just like him. He’s one of the reasons I wanted to entertain people and be loved by the people and make the girls admire me so much.” That same day during Elvis Week, Ali made a deeply personal visit to Graceland.
He walked to the meditation garden where Elvis is buried and paid his respects to the friend and icon he had admired for so many years. Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali finally met face-to-face in February 1973 in Las Vegas and the moment quickly became one for the history books. >> >> The two global superstars posed for photos together and Elvis arrived with a very special gift.
He presented Ali with a custom-made robe created just for him. >> >> I never had ANYTHING LIKE YOU. >> >> I DIDN’T PRAISE NOBODY. YOU DIDN’T deserve it. Cuz I am the greatest OF ALL TIME. >> >> I DON’T HAVE TO BOX AND WRESTLE AND BOX. AND I HAVE TO tell the world that this is the greatest OF ALL TIME.
>> >> THE SPARKLING WHITE ROBE WAS COVERED WITH decorations and had a style similar to the famous jumpsuits Elvis was wearing on stage at the time. Ali returned the favor with a gift of his own. He gave Elvis a pair of boxing gloves signed with the message, “Elvis, you are the greatest from Muhammad Ali.
Peace. 1973.” It was a powerful sign of the respect these two icons had for each other. Ali was especially moved by something Elvis had said years earlier. As a young man, he heard Elvis promise that if he ever became rich, >> >> he would buy his mother a car and a house. That promise stuck with him.
Ali later recalled, “I was 14 years old when I heard Elvis say that. And that made me want to do the same thing. I said, ‘When I get rich and famous, I’m going to buy my mother a car and then a house.’ After my first pro fight, I bought my mother a pink Cadillac. And after my second fight, I bought my folks a house, just like Elvis.
” According to George Klein, Ali also admired Elvis’s unique sense of style. >> Who is Muslim? Who is black? Who stands up for what he believes? Who is doing what he don’t have to say that I don’t feel? Who don’t have that I’m not forced? I will have to say this. I had no bosses on the street. He’s to me one of the greatest things, athletes, all around man OF ALL TIME.
>> >> HE SAID BOTH MEN WERE TRUE ORIGINALS who did things their own way. Wanting to honor Ali, Elvis contacted his designer and ordered a custom robe for him. >> >> The robe was meant to say The People’s Champ, but a mistake left it reading The People’s Choice. Even so, Ali proudly wore it.
>> >> The robe drew so much attention that broadcaster Howard Cosell eventually asked Ali, >> >> “Where did you get that beautiful robe?” When Howard Cosell asked where the eye-catching robe came from, Ali proudly replied, “Elvis gave it to me.” It was a simple answer, but it showed just how much that gift meant to him.
>> When it comes to boxing, nobody has the class, the style, the wit, the speed, THE GRACE >> >> AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF THE GREATEST THINGS ARE STILL BLACK. And I’m one who believes in black pride and black civil champions with as good a chance as anybody. But there’s one man who’s good as anybody.
And with all the brothers together, I have none no better than THIS DRESSED IN >> >> YEARS LATER, >> >> IN 1988, ALI donated the robe Elvis had given him to the Hard Rock Cafe in New York. Today, the famous robe can be seen at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, where it remains a reminder of the friendship between two legendary figures.
Ali often spoke warmly about Elvis and the impact he had on the world. He once reflected, “People don’t realize what they had till it’s gone. Like President Kennedy, there was no one like him. The Beatles, and my man, Elvis Presley. I was the Elvis of boxing.” That statement revealed the enormous respect Ali had for Elvis and the unique place he held in popular culture.
>> Like Elvis Presley, he was so hot because he never did interview, never do TV show. Whenever you make an appearance, millions of time to see him. >> Mhm. Their friendship lasted until Elvis’s passing in 1977. Ali later remembered meeting Elvis in Las Vegas in 1973. When Elvis invited him to ride back to Los Angeles in his gold-plated Cadillac station wagon.
Ali would have loved to go, but he already had plans to return home to Louisville instead. Years later, Ali admitted he regretted turning down that unforgettable ride with Elvis. Looking back, he said, >> A few days ago, girls and people just crying over Elvis Presley. Man, that’s old. President Kennedy a few days ago, the world was shocked.
Man, that’s old news, man. >> Man, that would have been historic. “I always wanted Elvis to drive me down Beale Street in a convertible, so his hometown could see that Muhammad Ali and Elvis Presley were good friends. Then I’d bring him to Louisville and do the same thing.” What could have been one of the most iconic public appearances ever never got the chance to happen.
Ali never forgot the kindness Elvis showed him. He later said, “Elvis was my close personal friend. He came to my Deer Lake training camp about 2 years before he died. I don’t admire nobody, but Elvis Presley was the sweetest, most humble, and nicest man you’d want to know.” >> If Elvis Presley could get out of his grave, he fill Yankee Stadium with a one day notice.
You know what I’m saying? >> Yeah. >> We just tell the public one day for the show, no publicity. Elvis Presley will be >> Coming from a man as confident and accomplished as Muhammad Ali, that praise speaks volumes. Did Muhammad Ali and Elvis Presley have one of the most unexpected celebrity friendships of all time? Let us know in the comments below.
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