Ali’s childhood hero, unsurprisingly, was boxing great “Sugar” Ray Robinson. He grew up watching the legendary pugilist, the best boxer of the first half of the 20th century and one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all time, and encountered him in his youth, asking for an autograph. Much to Ali’s disappointment, Robinson refused saying he “didn’t have the time.”
From that point on, Ali vowed that, if he made it as an athlete, he would never turn away fans…and he never did. To this day, Ali maintains a PO Box where fans can send photographs, magazines and other memorabilia for the ol’ John Hancock.
Worth noting is that, though disappointed, Ali never turned on Robinson. He referred to Robinson as “the king, the master, my idol” at the height of his career, and was seen alongside him repeatedly during his career.
Ali continues to sign autographs for fans today. If you’d like to get a photo signed, just shoot it over to P.O. Box 187 Berrien Springs, MI 49103 with a self-addressed stamped envelope.
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