Laila Ali - The Heiress
BOXING - SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION -
WBC - WIBA - IWBF - IBA
ARCHETYPE: THE HEIRESS
Day 112/135
Athletic Accomplishments
From 1999 to 2007, Laila Ali was the biggest name in women’s boxing. And it wasn’t just because her father was the most iconic boxer of all time, the best, the greatest, the prettiest: Muhammad Ali. It was because Laila Ali won round after round, match after match, and title after title.
When Ali first told her father she wanted to box professionally, he was unhappy about it. He knew from experience how dangerous boxing was and didn’t want to see his daughter get hurt or suffer from some of the prolonged and permanent effects of a violent sport. But Laila was insistent. And also extremely good.
In her career, Ali won and defended multiple titles, including the WBC, WIBA, IWBF, and IBA super middleweight titles, as well as the IWBF light heavyweight title. After her first nine wins, her fans and fans of the sport begged for Ali to fight against Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, Joe Frazier’s daughter. Both women agreed to fight in “Ali/Frazier IV,” recreating the hype and mystique around the three incredible Ali/Frazier bouts of the 1970s. Despite leaving the ring with a fractured collar bone and bloody nose, Laila Ali added another victory for the Ali side.
When she retired in 2007, Ali still had a flawless, undefeated 24-0 record, solidifying her place as one of the all-time best boxers.
Character Archetype: The Heiress
From 1999 to 2007, Laila Ali was an undefeated boxing champion, going 24-0 and winning world titles in the super middleweight and light heavyweight classes. But you might be more inclined to call Ali by her other title, “Muhammad Ali’s daughter.” And yes, you’d be accurate.
But it’s lazy and, pardon my French, but some real patriarchal bullshit to define Ali by what her father accomplished. Because her dad initially didn’t want her to get into boxing because he thought it was too dangerous. But Laila did it anyway. Because she’s an athlete who refused to be boxed in by society’s pressures and perceptions. Now, where do you think she got that backbone from? Maybe the same place she got her jabs, hooks, and crosses.
Laila Ali is the one who got in the ring and earned a 24-0 record. She’s the one who said she’d come out of retirement to face Claressa Shields. That kind of greatness may run in the family, but it’s both nature and nurture.
Laila Ali is not just boxing royalty because of her bloodline. She earned her crown, as one of the best boxers to ever get in the ring.