Muhammad Ali honored at Butterfly Ball

Jet, March 21, 2005

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was recently recognized for his lifelong contributions by an audience of admirers and celebrities during the Butterfly Ball at the Grand Hyatt in Atlanta.

The black-tie affair, co-hosted by radio personality Tom Joyner and talk show host Tavis Smiley, was held to raise $75 million for the Muhammad Ali Center in Ali's hometown of Louisville, KY. The Center is scheduled to open on November 19.

Attendees of the event were entertained by famed singer Brian McKnight and were reported to have paid up to $1,000 per ticket for the evening.

Smiley felt humbled after meeting the former champ. "Throughout Ali's life he has never lied to the American people," he said during a news conference. "If we all had that, this world would be a better place. This event made sense to honor the greatest."

Among the celebrities who paid tribute to Ali were Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Cornel West and former boxing champ Lennox Lewis, who served as honorary co-chairman of the ball. The 63-year-old Ali was accompanied by his wife, Lonnie, and daughter, Laila Ali, the WIBA super middleweight title holder.