MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – As the world remembers Muhammad Ali, so do people here locally.
News13 sat down with former heavyweight champion James “Bonecrusher” Smith, who knew Ali personally.
“We had some of the same friends, so they would call me say come on over, the champ wants to see you; so we’d get together and ride around in the limo things like that,” said Smith.
Smith considered Ali a friend for more than 25 years.
“It’s a sad day. He’s going to be truly missed, I miss him already, but you know the past few years his health was getting worse,” said Smith.
Smith says Ali was an inspiration for the world, and for him personally.
“I think one of the reasons God blesses you, is to be a blessing and things we’re offering to young kids is to let them know you can do this too,” said Smith.
Smith said as people mourn the loss of an icon, he’ll remember the personal moments they shared.
“He was into magic, he could levitate. It was a trick and really, when you look at him, he’d be walking away and all of sudden he’d raise both feet. It was a trick, but it was kind of a dumb trick,” he recalled with laughter.
Like Ali, Smith has dedicated his life after boxing to helping those less fortunate.
Right now he works with a summer reading program at the Horry County Library.
