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ALI, Muhammad (1942-2016). American professional boxer, considered by many the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Olympic Gold medalist (1960). His greatest win might have been traveling to Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. Saddam Hussein took thousands of foreign hostages including 15 Americans. He used them as human shields. Some of them had worked for the GM plant in Baghdad. Ali was supposed to meet Saddam but Saddam stalled for a week. Ali was in rough shape as he ran out of his Parkinson’s medication. Ali was able to find some of the medication at a Baghdad hospital and met with Saddam Hussein on Nov. 29, 1990. Ali convinced Hussein to release all the American hostages and they went to Ali’s modest hotel room. On Dec. 2, 1990, Ali and the hostages flew out of Baghdad to JFK airport in new York. Just a few weeks later on Jan. 16, 1991, the U.S. began bombing Iraq known as “Operation Desert Storm.”
Very RARE typed letter signed, on the letterhead of 4944 Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, Il., no date. “Dear (left in blank to be added when mailed) I was delighted to hear from you. You may not think so, but I really appreciate each and every letter that I receive. I feel good now. I’m in good shape and razor sharp. In case you were a little aprehensive regarding my upcoming fight, let me inform you that this is going to be the prettiest, most masterful upset that boxing has ever seen. I guarantee this, and I couldn’t be more serious. Please forgive the brevity of this letter, but I have much to do and must move on. I hope you achieve success in whatever you try to do. Very truly yours, Muhammad Ali.” A very vintage letter and blue ink signature..................................$1,600.00
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