Muhammad Ali : In Fighter's Heaven by Victor Bockris

by Victor Bockris

'The man who has no imagination Stands on earth He has no wings He cannot fly' Muhammad Ali Just off Highway 61 in northern Pennsylvania, up the dirt drive of a wooded hill lay a place called Fighter's Heaven. This was once the training camp of the 'greatest of all times'. From early '73 through the summer of '74 Victor Bockris visited Muhammad Ali, while Ali was preparing for his epic battle in Zaire to regain the World Heavyweight crown from the fearsome George Foreman. Bockris, who was later to write about people like William Burroughs, Andy Warhol and Lou Reed was less interested in his subject's boxing career and ambitions than in his extraordinary gifts as a poet, preacher and performer. As Muhammad Ali said himself of this book, 'These are some of the things I don't reveal to the public too much'.

Genres: Biography

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Perry Whitford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fighter's Heaven could easily stand as a metaphor - for Muhammad Ali resides in the pantheon of boxers; but in a more literal, prosaic sense it is the name of his secluded training camp in the country, a purpose built hideaway of log cabins and huge boulders decorated with the names of other famous heavyweights.

In 1973, Victor Bockriss got to spend some time there with the Greatest. Bockriss is more commonly associated with writing about rock music. I have previously read his biographies on Lou Reed and his band The Velvet Underground.

I don't know how he got this gig, but on this showing he didn't really make much out of it. It's always good to get a glimpse of Ali, but even the meeting with Andy Warhol which ends this book proves to be something of a dud.

Ali reels off a few of his well-heeled rants, entertains a few tourists and raps out some of his poetry while Bockriss simply fails to engage him. The many photos are probably the best part, even if some of them are blurry and unprofessional.

Other than that, Ali's poetry is pretty good. Though rudimentary in the extreme, it is also full of truth and power, especially if you imagine it intoned in the fighter's own forceful, rhythmic voice. This is my favourite sample:

'Life is a fair trade where all adjusts itself in time.
For all that you take from it, you must pay the price sooner or later.
For some things, you must pay in advance.
For some things, you must pay on delivery.
And for others, later on, when the bill is presented.'

Amen. Allah and Ali be praised.

[Rayan Alsinan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read. Really excited to talk to Mr. Bockris tomorrow.