Muhammad Ali Chauffeured In Open-top Mercedes In Ghana During His African Tour In 1964

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali chauffeured in open-top Mercedes 220 Cabriolet during his visit to Ghana In 1964. 

During his tour of Africa, the three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer also visited Nigeria.

Picture taken during his trip to Nigeria shows Ali sitting atop a car while crowds welcomed him with chants of “King of the World”.

African trip came in a historic year for Ali as he defeated Sonny Liston, dropped his “slave name” Cassius Clay and converted to Islam.

American professional boxer, Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., embarked on his first African tour in 1964, saying : “I want to see Africa and meet my brothers and sisters.”

“I am glad to tell our people that there are more things to be seen in Africa than lions and elephants. They never told us about your beautiful flowers, magnificent hotels, beautiful houses, beaches, great hospitals, schools, and universities,” he said.

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The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer began his African tour in Ghana, where he was chauffeured in an open-roof 1961 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet with a “WELCOME TO GHANA MUHAMMAD ALI” sticker attached to the windscreen, which allowed his Ghanaian fans to have a better glimpse of him.

Muhammad Ali’s itinerary included Nigeria. A picture taken during his trip to the country in 1964 shows crowds welcome him with chants of “King of the World” while the ‘Greatest’ sat atop a car taking him to a hotel.

The African trip came in a historic year for Ali as he defeated Sonny Liston who was regarded as “unbeatable” to become world champion, dropped his “slave name” Cassius Clay to become Muhammadu Ali and converted to Islam.

During his lifetime, Muhammad Ali visited Nigeria twice : the first visit, a three-day tour of Lagos between June 1 to 3 in 1964 and in 1979 for the inauguration of President Shehu Shagari.

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