Laila Ali and her legendary father, the late, great Muhammad Ali, always had a very strong bond. Of course, they had the traditional father-daughter relationship, but their bond didn’t stop there. Out of Ali’s eight children, Laila was the one to continue his legacy in the boxing ring. Like her father, Laila made history in the ring and retired undefeated.
In fact, most fans probably have no idea, but a 1977 newspaper publication, Ali actually predicted Laila would be the next champ before she was even old enough to hold a bottle. Laila shared a photo of that newspaper interview clip on Instagram and the caption read:
“I didn’t ask for this…I’m just working with all the gifts I was given. Last born child…and a female. 8 siblings but I’m the only fighter and the News chose this headline I put the❗️on it though! #Destiny#AliWay”
Laila’s Sentimental Surprise To Her Dad
Shortly before Ali’s passing in 2016, Laila presented him with a big surprise. She told The Champ she’d be dedicating her new cookbook, Food for Life: Delicious & Healthy Comfort Food From My Table To Yours, to him and that she’d named one her burgers after him. That was a BIG deal for her pops, Muhammad Ali, because it holds a certain sentimental value for the two of them. Laila explained why that is in an interview with ESSENCE:
“My father and I both have always had a love affair with tasty homemade meals and comfort foods. Another thing my father loved was a great burger at some of the local burger joints he encountered during his worldwide travels. So when my dad was still alive and well, to surprise him during one of my trips to visit him in Arizona, I shared with him that I named one of his favorite burgers after him. It’s called ‘The Ali Burger.'”
In addition to her creating a sentimental piece of work for her Pops, the former boxer-turned-fitness-and-wellness expert shared her overall purpose for her cookbook. She’s deeply concerned about the health epidemic plaguing the African-American community:
“The epidemic we face in our country with people suffering from diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other illnesses is largely connected to our lifestyle choices, and unfortunately the African American community is disproportionately affected,” said Laila.”I am passionate about encouraging others and providing all people with tools to improve their health and overall quality of life!”
Why Laila Ali Is “Sad” & “Happy” About Her Dad’s Passing
Needless to say, Laila is still saddened by her father’s death but, like most people who are grieving the loss of a loved on, she’s glad he’s no longer suffering from Parkinson’s Disease:
Via CBSNews: “Obviously, I’m sad, I’m going to miss my father, but I’ve been sad for a long time because my father’s been struggling with Parkinson’s for a long time,” Laila Ali said. “So I’m happy knowing that he’s no longer struggling, and that’s what gives me comfort,” Ali said. “My dad was not only the best fighter ever, but also such a great man, and there will never be anyone else like him,” Ali said. “He fought for those that couldn’t speak up for themselves, and he’ll truly be missed by all of us.”
