Thousands of pounds were pledged at Saturday night’s Jersey Dinner Boxing Club event at L’Horizon to enable two Leonis ABC members, coach Dave Thompson and novice boxer Alex Begbie, to undertake the visit of a lifetime later this month.
But the prize, to visit the home of Muhammad Ali and dine with sport’s greatest ever character – as well as dozens of other former world champions – during a exclusive visit to his birthplace of Louisville, Kentucky, can only be taken up by one of them …
novice boxer Begbie.
Taking part in an auction to raise funds for the club, one of the evening’s guests of honour, the popular Joe Egan, started off the bidding for the sole ticket on offer at £5,000 – the cost price.
Bidding was closed at ?9,000 with the winner, Margaret Thompson, managing director of Thompson Estates, immediately donating the prize to young Begbie, a novice of great promise.
Having also taken part in the bidding (and preparing to top the final bid) professional boxing promoter Dennis Hobson, an Island resident, informed Egan that he would use his connections to secure another ticket to allow Leonis stalwart Thompson to accompany the youngster.
But although he described as ‘heart-breaking’ his decision to turn down the chance to visit Ali, Thompson was adamant yesterday that he would be unable to make the trip because of local boxing commitments.
For slap-bang in the middle of the trip is Jersey Leonis’ debut meeting at the Radison SAS Waterfront Hotel, against a Devon Select.
‘My first concern has to be for the local boxing scene.
I simply must be there for the opening night – it is the future for our club and I’ve put an awful lot into this.’
Not for nothing was Thompson awarded the MBE for his dedication to boxing in the Island.
‘It really is the trip of a lifetime,’ said a delighted Begbie, already beaming after his three-round victory on the evening.
Thompson said that young Begbie will be well looked after on the trip by former Irish heavyweight champion Egan, famously dubbed ‘the hardest white man on the planet’ by Mike Tyson.
Well over ?11,000 was raised for Leonis ABC’s funds – with Dennis Hobson, a regular benefactor of Island boxing, donating ?4,000 to the club in lieu of the ticket, which had been offered only on the condition that Dave Thompson used it to meet his hero, ‘The Greatest’.
