By SHYAM DODGE FOR BE INFORMED
PUBLISHED: 07:56 GMT, 6 June 2016 | UPDATED: 09:03 GMT, 6
June 2016
'I love you,' are the words Liam Neeson first told his
childhood hero.
The now 63-year-old movie star, who once moonlighted as an
amateur boxer, recalled in an interview with Irish Central how he met the late
Muhammad Ali, who passed away on Friday at age 74.
It was 1981 when the Taken star first encountered the boxing
legend right before his bout with Trevor Berbick in the Bahamas, which would be
the heavyweight's final fight.
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His hero: Liam Neeson, who once moonlighted as an amateur
boxer, recalled in an interview with Irish Central how he met the late Muhammad
Ali, who passed away on Friday at age 74 (pictured in 2009)
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'I got to meet him before he had his last fight in
1981,' Neeson recealled. 'Not knowing
what to say and with my knees shaking, I said "Muhammad, I love you."
'He gave me a hug and then signed an autograph for my
father.'
The actor went on to reminisce about another meeting he had
the legend.
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Fond memories: Neeson recalled meeting Ali and his wife
Lonnie in 2011 (pictured here in 2010 in Toronto, Canada)
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'I met him again in 2011. He was unable to speak with his
advanced Parkinson's. I put my hand over his and whispered "I love
you." His wife said to me, "He knows who you are."
'He was a giant of humanity,' the actor concluded. 'As a
people, we are all in bereavement.'
Neeson enjoyed a brief stint as an amateur boxer in Ireland
before going on to become one the world's most recognisable film stars.
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'I got to meet him before he had his last fight in 1981,'
Neeson recealled. 'Not knowing what to say and with my knees shaking, I said
"Muhammad, I love you."'
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I loved him too! And Liam seems to be a good man and not the raving racist some people have attempted to paint him as! I've been a fan since his Dark Man days! God bless you as well Mr. Neeson
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