Daughter of Muhammad Ali meets Mandela

(30 Jan 2007) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of Nelson Mandela Foundation building in Johannesburg
2. Foundation sign at entrance to offices
3. Mid of journalists
4. Women's WBC (World Boxing Council ) and IBF (International Boxing Federation) super-middleweight title holder, Laila Ali and Former South African President Nelson Mandela standing together in front of cameras
5. Cutaway media
6. SOUNDBITE (English): Nelson Mandela, Former South African President:
"It is an honour that she should come here ,and we wish her good luck in the fight and we will be next to her, if not physically but spiritually, wishing her good luck."
7. Cutaway media
8. SOUNDBITE (English): Laila Ali, Women's WBC and IBF super-middleweight title holder:
"I have so much of inspiration and motivation to do my best and I will, so thank you."
9. Cutaway media
10. Mandela and Laila posing for photographs
11. Mandela walking into building
12. SOUNDBITE (English): Laila Ali, Women's WBC and IBF super-middleweight title holder:
"You know this isn't the first time that I have met him, but it's always nice to see him, he's such a great man. I put him on the same level as my father which I don't really do for many men. And you know, he said some inspiring words for me, reminding me of who I am and where I come from, which I know, and just telling me that he supports me and my career and send my love to my father. You know he kept going on about my dad and I said you are great man too and he said 'oh well I don't know', and I said that's the same thing that my dad says."
13. Laila Ali walking away
STORYLINE
Laila Ali, the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, met with former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old will become the first female boxer to headline a bout in South Africa when she defends her WBC (World Boxing Council ) and IBF (International Boxing Federation) super-middleweight titles against Gwendolyn O'Neil in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Speaking at a news conference outside the Nelson Mandela Foundation building, former South African leader wished Ali good luck in in the upcoming fight.
"It is an honour that she should come here, and we wish her good luck in the fight and we will be next to her, if not physically but spiritually, wishing her good luck," said Mandela.
In response Ali said that she had the "inspiration and motivation" to do her best.
"He said some inspiring words for me, reminding me of who I am and where I come from," said Ali.
Ali also told reporters that she held the former South african President in the same high regard as her father.
"He's such a great man," said Ali. "I put him on the same level as my father which I don't really do for many men."
But she said that the two men shared a similar modesty about their great achievements.
"He kept going on about my dad and I said you are great man too and he said 'oh well I don't know', and I said that's the same thing that my dad says."
On Wednesday, Ali visited Nelson Mandela's ex-wife and human-rights activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Soweto and spoke to students at a local school.
Laila Ali will take on Gwendolyn O'Neil on Saturday at the Emperor's Palace Casino in Johannesburg.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...