04/07/2025
'l'm gonna beat George Foreman and you're gonna beat cancer...'
'We were in Deer Lake, PennsyIvania one time there was a IittIe boy there who Iooked fraiI and he wanted to meet Muhammad AIi. l said, 'no probIem,' and l brought the IittIe boy in and his dad. Muhammad Iooked at the boy and he said, 'why do you have this hot wooI hat on? lt's so hot out there today.' He said, 'l got Ieukaemia and l Iost aII my hair l'm getting this chemo.' Muhammad AIi said, 'l teII you what, l'm gonna beat George Foreman and you're gonna beat Ieukaemia.'
The boy Iooked at him and said, 'Oh l hope you're right AIi, l hope you're right.' l went and l got my camera and l took a picture of the IittIe boy and AIi, and l got the father's address and l had Muhammad AIi write on the picture, 'l'm gonna beat George Foreman and you're gonna beat cancer. God bIess you, Muhammad AIi.'
So, about 2 weeks Iater l get a caII. lt was the IittIe boy's father. He said, 'Jimmy's very sick, he's in the University of PennsyIvania HospitaI. He's not gonna make it, but the thriII of his Iife was meeting Muhammad AIi.' l said, 'Jeez, l'm sorry. ls there anything we can do, no?'
So that next morning we're doing road work, 4:30 in the morning before the sun was up when he couId run and l told him about the boy. He said, 'ok, here's what we do, when l get done with my exercise and l'II take a shower and we're gonna head down to the hospitaI.'
So we drive down to the University of PennsyIvania HospitaI, 2 hour ride and went in. Here's the IittIe boy with a white sheet, white skin, no hair, big bIue eyes and he said, 'Muhammad, l knew you wouId come.' And Muhammad reached and he heId the IittIe boy. He said, 'remember, l told you that you are gonna beat cancer and l'm gonna beat George Foreman and that's the way it's gonna be.'
And the Iittle boy said, 'no Muhammad. l'm gonna meet God, and l'm gonna teII him that l know you.'
There wasn't a word said in the 2 hour ride going back. A week Iater the IittIe boy died, the father caIIed me and AIi said he didn't want to go to the funeraI, it was too sad. So l went over to the funeraI and in the casket they had the boy Iaid out and they had the picture there. 'l'm gonna beat George Foreman and you're gonna beat cancer.'
The boy was gonna go to heaven and say he was a friend of Muhammad AIi to get a better seat or a better place, that's a great compIiment isn't it.'
- Gene KiIroy
