Booth swings and misses in assessment of Ali

To the Editor:

The usually trenchant and perspicacious, Clark Booth does a flagrant disservice to boxing icon, Muhammad Ali in his most recent column ("Chew over these leftovers around the Thanksgiving table", 11/23 Reporter). Claiming Ali was "over-rated, and allegedly a skillful boxer" inside of the ring, Mr. Booth besmirches Ali's reputation further by saying he was a mere "accidental tourist" outside of it. Please, give me a break!

Citing religious reasons and publicly stating that "he had no quarrel with them Vietcong", Ali was stripped of his boxing crown for resisting the draft in June of 1967. At the time, Ali was heavyweight champion, in the prime of his boxing life and was just then reaching the pinnacle of his athletic prowess. The ease which he dispatched opponents had many fans claiming he was the greatest heavyweight ever. The total domination Ali displayed in his two victories over the seemingly invincible Sonny Liston, no doubt, fueled this kind of talk.

Relinquishing his boxing crown for his own personal beliefs is evidence of a person with tremendous integrity; despite Mr. Booth‚s claims to the contrary.

It was only after the Supreme Court overturned Ali's suspension some three-and-a-half years later, that Ali was able to return to the ring. By then, Ali's skills had greatly diminished due to his long layoff and it helped level the playing field for all of Ali's remaining foes.

Mike Burns

Turnersville, NJ