Ali's Longtime Manager Dies at 79
Tuesday August 26, 2008
Jabir Herbert Muhammad, longtime manager of Muhammad Ali and son of the late Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, has died following triple bypass heart surgery at the age of 79. Muhammad managed Ali's career from shortly after Ali defeated Sonny Liston to win the heavyweight title in 1964 until 1981, and then managed his post-fighting career for an additional 10 years. Known as a brilliant negotiator, one of his greatest achievements was securing Ali's $10 million purse to fight Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971 in "The Fight of the Century."
Muhammad is survived by his wife and, according to his son, 14 children, numerous grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Comments
It’s amazing how much control Herbert had over Ali. He even lined him up with his first girlfriend, a non Muslim, whom Ali later married. Go figure.