Muhammad Ali’s Insecurity and Envy of Elvis Presley Revealed

Muhammad Ali, the legendary heavyweight boxing champion, was not immune to bouts of insecurity, according to his ex-wife.

Behind closed doors, Ali would compare his looks unfavorably to those of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.

Khalilah, Ali's second wife, shared a rare insight into his mindset, stating that Ali believed Elvis was “real pretty” and envied him for drawing the attention of women.

Despite his own physical prowess, Ali also admired Brazilian footballing legend Pele as a “true athlete” and was fascinated by The Beatles and their iconic haircuts.

Ali and Presley were close friends in the years leading up to Presley's death in 1977.

Ali even referred to himself as “The Elvis of Boxing.”

Presley gifted Ali a custom jeweled robe, mistakenly emblazoned with the words “People's Choice” instead of “People's Champ,” before his fight against Joe Bugner in 1973.

Khalilah describes their interactions, saying that both Ali and Presley were down-to-earth individuals who loved giving and helping others.

Khalilah also reveals Ali's admiration for Pele, describing a moment when they witnessed the Brazilian striker perform in Cairo, Egypt.

Ali was in awe of Pele's athletic abilities and expressed his respect for another Black man at the top of his sport.

The connection between the two athletes was visible, with the crowd going wild and witnessing the mutual admiration between them.

Khalilah met Ali when she was just 10 years old, and they married when she was 17.

Their home in New Jersey became a hub for celebrities and strangers alike during their nine-year marriage.

Khalilah recounts how Ali would open the door for strangers, showing off their beautiful home.

She also recalls humorous moments, such as when British TV presenter Michael Parkinson visited and Ali playfully demanded food, playing the role of the master of the house.

Their marriage eventually ended due to Ali's affair with a 16-year-old girl.

Khalilah later accused him of having many illegitimate children.

Despite the betrayal, Khalilah acknowledges that every man has weaknesses and admits that she admired Ali's strength.

She stuck by him during his struggles, including when he was stripped of his world championship and faced imprisonment for refusing to fight in Vietnam.

Khalilah remained Ali's right-hand woman throughout his career, handling PR, promotions, and strategy behind the scenes.

Even after their divorce, they remained friends until his death in 2016 from Parkinson's Disease.

Despite her significant role in Ali's life, Khalilah was not consulted for the 2001 film “Ali,” starring Will Smith.

She expresses disappointment that she was not included in the depiction of Ali's life, as she had been with him for most of his career.

Khalilah believes that while Smith portrayed Ali well, the film portrayed him as constantly angry, while in reality, Ali was a happy person who got along well with others.

In her book, “UNDEFEATED: The Untold Story of My Forgiveness, Healing, and Reclamation,” Khalilah shares her journey and experiences with Ali.

She reflects on their time together and the impact he had on her life.