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It was a hot and
humid Sunday in June
1998 and my wife and
I decided to stay
for the induction
ceremonies
in Canastota.
Usually, we leave
that morning but
something held us
back this time.
After a short but
emotional acceptance
by the great Miguel
Canto, Lou Duva
worked his way to
the stage and gave a
rousing and
marvelous one that
came directly from
his heart, as he
talked entirely
about his fighters
and family and never
got around to
himself.
He closed with these
humble words, " You
know there's a lot
of great champions
up here. You know
when you talk about
Emanuel Steward and
you talk about Eddie
Futch. Great
trainers. Great
trainers. |
Ted, Jeff Chandler
and Matthew Saad |
|
I don't want to be thought about
that, hey, they were great trainers
and so was Lou. No. All I want to be
known as is I'm the guy who fought
for my fighters. That's all I want
to be known about. Thank you very
much." Lou was moved and so was the
crowd.
With Lou's closing words, my eyes
started to itch just a bit, but then
Matthew Saad Muhammad came to the
dais and delivered his acceptance
speech:
"Oh man, this is such a joy. Look at
all the people. Look at that. Look
at that. I'm so honored. I'm so
happy. That all you guys, all you
ladies came out here to be part of
this induction. The people who are
staying here, all the fighters, all
the champions, all the retired
fighters.
I want to say thank you to the dais,
to all the world champions. Wow, I
don't know where to begin. I want to
thank God for making it all possible
for me. If it wasn't for me it would
never have happened. Although my
mother and father, they made me but
then they erased me. But it's okay.
God is real and I can't think about
what happened then. I can only go on
and think about the present. And I
want to really thank the Boxing Hall
of Fame for bringing me out here.
Man, I'm a little nervous. I'm a
little nervous.
I'm looking at all these people
looking at me. Man. I want to thank
my mother and father, Laveech.
Catherine and Samuel Laveech from
Alaska. I want to thank also Joe
Johnson. His mother raised me when I
was a child about two years old. So
it was his mother that adopted me.
The Santos family and for them. I'm
happy. They didn't have to do that.
They had about 10 other children of
their own. I was only, I guess,
about the 11th.
They took all of us in and they
treated us the same. It was no
little "U" big "I." And that's the
thing I can always remember. And
also Neil Gelb who works with me
now, my attorney. I want to thank
him for being here and his
associates. And I see al these great
fighters here. These promoters,
managers. Emanuel Steward. Lou Duva,
that's my man. He's in the house.
Bob Foster. Ken Norton. Eddie Futch.
Marvin Hagler. Everybody. Jose.
Carmen Basilio. There's so many of
them. I can't start. You guys really
put me on the spot. But I'm gonna
try to involve myself still in
boxing. I enjoy the game and I will
always enjoy it because it made me
who I am today. I didn't make it for
what it is. And it's a good thing. I
just want to be part of it. I still
want to be part of it. I don't know
if I'll take any more fights on.
Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I'll
think about it. You Gotta think
about it first. They say I'm pretty
good looking. I don't know. I'm
gonna try anyway. That's all I'm
gonna say. Thank you very much."
When he said "....Although my mother
and father, they made me but then
they erased me. But it's okay. God
is real and I can't think about what
happened then....," a silent but
palpable electric shock of emotion
swept through the place. "They made
me but then they erased me...." In
the audience were grizzled
ex-boxers, cynical writers, former
inductees, and tough muscular guys
with tattoos, swept back hair and
lots of jewlery. But there were few
dry eyes in the house and mine were
pretty darn moist.
One thing was certain as a result of
this cloudy and hot
weekend......this very gentle and
sensitive man named Matthew Saad
Muhammad would never be erased in
our hearts. Never. |
